CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Betting Shops

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many fixed-odds betting terminals were located in Tote betting shops at the latest date for which figures are available.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I understand from the Tote that there were 1,988 such terminals on 1 April 2008.

National Lottery: Play

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of the funding available under the Big Lottery Fund Children's Play initiative has been  (a) committed and  (b) spent.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The figures reflect the proportion of money which has been committed and spent under the Big Lottery Fund's children's play initiative in England.
	
		
			  £ 
			  Programme name  Current value (committed)  Total paid to date (spent) 
			 Play Infrastructure 14,494,368 5,972,696 
			 Playful Ideas 8,706,612 1,610,325 
			 Children's Play 113,889,266 9,135,853 
			 Total 137,090,246 16,718,874 
		
	
	The total money available for the Children's Play initiative is £155 million. The Big Lottery Fund has committed 88 per cent. of the total available and expect to commit all funds under the play initiative by September 2008.

Rackspace

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the value was of each contract awarded to Rackspace by  (a) his Department  (b) its agencies in each of the last nine years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: My Department uses the services of Rackspace via a framework agreement with its main IT suppliers, Atos Origin. My Department does not have a direct contract with Rackspace.
	Charges made by Atos Origin for the Rackspace service are from January 2005 to date and amount to £52,782.
	The Royal Parks Agency has never awarded a contract to Rackspace.

Sports: Voluntary Organisations

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of charities running local authority sports and leisure centres which provide access to spas or saunas for those who pay for access to swimming pools.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Specific information on the delivery of leisure services by local authorities and the number providing access to spas or saunas for those who pay for access to swimming pools is not centrally collated. However, the Audit Commission report of June 2006, "Public sports and recreation services: making them fit for the future", suggests that some 22 per cent. of public leisure facilities in England are provided through trusts.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Bone Diseases: Death

Andrew George: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people died from ankylosing spondylitis in each year since 1997 in  (a) England and  (b) each region.

Edward Miliband: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated April 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people died from ankylosing spondylitis in each year since 1997 in (a) England and (b) each region. (198692)
	The table attached provides the number of deaths where ankylosing spondylitis was the underlying cause of death in (a) England and (b) each government office region, from 1997 to 2006 (the latest year available).
	
		
			  Table 1 .  Number of deaths where ankylosing spondylitis was the underlying cause of death( 1) , Government Office Regions and England,  1997 to 2006( 2,3) 
			  Deaths (persons) 
			  Region  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 North East 1 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 
			 North West 1 1 2 4 2 0 1 1 2 1 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 1 3 2 1 2 2 0 1 3 2 
			 East Midlands 3 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 
			 West Midlands 2 1 3 0 1 2 1 2 0 2 
			 East of England 2 2 2 1 1 1 4 6 3 3 
			 London 0 5 1 2 1 1 0 2 0 2 
			 South East 3 4 6 2 1 1 2 2 5 2 
			 South West 3 4 4 1 2 1 3 0 1 4 
			 England 16 23 20 12 10 8 13 15 15 18 
			 (1) Cause of death for ankylosing spondylitis was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code 720.0 and Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code M45. The introduction of ICD-10 in 2001 means that the numbers of deaths from this cause before 2001 are not completely comparable with later years. (2) Based on boundaries as of 2008. (3) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.

Charities: Fraud

Jo Swinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many of his Department's leaflets raising public awareness of the problem of bogus charity clothing collections have been distributed to date; and what plans he has for wider distribution.

Phil Hope: The Office of the Third Sector has teamed up with stakeholders including representatives from the charity sector to produce a leaflet for householders with top tips to help check clothing collection leaflets. We have printed 500,000 copies of this leaflet which was distributed by Clothes Aid to households in particular areas where problems have been reported across England and Wales.
	This leaflet has been published on stakeholder websites to raise public awareness. Stakeholders are free to print and distribute further copies of this leaflet if they feel it is necessary. I am aware for example, that British Heart Foundation have printed at least 50,000 copies of this leaflet for door to door distribution.

Employment: Houghton and Washington East

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people were in employment in Houghton and Washington East constituency in each of the last 10 years.

Edward Miliband: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated April 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many people were in employment in Houghton and Washington East constituency in each of the last 10 years. (198485)
	The Office for National Statistics compiles employment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) and its predecessor the annual Labour Force Survey (LFS) following International Labour Organisation definitions.
	Table 1, attached, shows the number of people aged 16 and over, resident in the Houghton and Washington East constituency, who were in employment in each of the last 10 years. Estimates are obtained from the annual LFS for each 12 month period from 1997 to 2004 ending in February. For time series comparisons, the APS estimates from 2005 to 2007 are provided covering the 12 month periods ending in March, but the most recently released estimate is also included, which covers the 12 month period ending in September 2007.
	As these estimates are for a subset of the population in a small geographical area, they are based on small sample sizes, and are therefore subject to large margins of uncertainty.
	In order to produce estimates for small geographical areas, APS and annual LFS estimates are provided based on survey microdata. These are consistent with the UK
	population estimates published in February and March 2003, whereas the regional and national estimates published in the Labour Market Statistics First Release are based on more up-to-date population figures, so the two are not directly comparable.
	
		
			  Table 1: People aged 16+ in employment in Houghton and Washington East  c onstituency 
			  Thousand 
			  12 months ending  In employment 
			 February 1997(1) 38 
			 February 1998(1) 42 
			 February 1999(1) 34 
			 February 2000(1) 37 
			 February 2001(1) 41 
			 February 2002(1) 38 
			 February 2003(1) 38 
			 February 2004(1) 36 
			 March 2005(2) 38 
			 March 2006(2) 40 
			 March 2007(2) 39 
			 September 2007(2) 41 
			 (1) Source: Annual Labour Force Survey (2) Source: Annual Population Survey

Iraq: Documents

Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  pursuant to the Answer of 29 February 2008,  Official Report, column 2025W, on Iraq: documents, how the detailed comments passed on by Ann Taylor to John Scarlett on the draft dossier on Iraq on 19 September 2002 which were referred to in evidence to the Hutton inquiry (ISC/3/0003) were passed on; and whether John Scarlett or any other individual made a record of these comments;
	(2)  when he expects to answer Question 193199, on Iraqi documents, tabled on 5 March 2008.

Edward Miliband: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 29 February 2008,  Official Report, column 2025W.

Liverpool

Robert Wareing: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on his visit to Liverpool, West Derby constituency on 1 February 2008; at whose invitation he attended; where he visited; and whom he met;
	(2)  when he plans to answer Question 193825, on his visit to Liverpool, West Derby constituency, tabled on 10 March 2008.

Edward Miliband: holding answer  13 March  2008
	The visit to Liverpool, West Derby on 1 February 2008 was not made in my ministerial capacity.

Non-profit Making Associations: Community Work

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is taking to support the community work of social enterprises providing services for vulnerable user groups.

Phil Hope: Government are committed to creating an environment in which all social enterprises, including those providing services to vulnerable groups, can thrive. The social enterprise action plan, published in November 2006, sets out cross-departmental commitment to actions which aim to foster a culture of social enterprise; ensure the right information and advice is available to those running social enterprises; enable social enterprises to access appropriate finance; and enable social enterprise to work with government.
	As part of this action plan, the Office of the Third Sector, within the Cabinet Office, provides core funding to umbrella organisations which support and represent social enterprise at a national level. Included among these is Social Firms UK which offers support to social enterprises which provide employment to disadvantaged groups.
	The joint Cabinet Office and HM Treasury report on the Future Role of the Third Sector in Social and Economic Regeneration, published in July 2007 also sets out the commitments of the Cabinet Office in supporting the third sector as a whole.
	Both of the social enterprise action plan and the report on the future role of the third sector are available in the Library of the house.

Non-profit Making Associations: Special Educational Needs

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the potential for third sector organisations to assist in the delivery of public services for those with learning difficulties.

Phil Hope: Third sector organisations working in partnership with the public sector play a valuable role in supporting people with learning difficulties. They bring an innovative, flexible approach tailored to people's needs. In particular, as part of the Government's wish to encourage independent living, we are keen to promote the role of user-led organisations of disabled people in supporting them to lead independent lives.
	We expect third sector organisations to play an important role in the delivery of the new Socially Excluded Adults PSA (PSA 16). The PSA aims to increase the proportion of four socially excluded groups in employment and in settled accommodation; adults with learning disabilities known to councils are one of the target groups.

Public Participation

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1344W, on public participation: incentives, what other public participation events have been organised since the deliberative forum on the draft legislative programme.

Edward Miliband: The Cabinet Office has not organised any further public participation events since the deliberative forum on the draft legislative programme.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Departmental Visits Abroad

Francis Maude: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Chichester of 25 February 2008,  Official Report, columns 1146-8W, on departmental visits abroad, which of the flights listed were carbon offset.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that none of the flights listed were carbon offset.

Electoral Commission: Grants

Francis Maude: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 2241-2W, on Electoral Commission: grants, if he will place in the Library a copy of the terms and conditions of the scheme.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has done so.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Freedom of Information: Requests for Data Held

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2008,  Official Report, column 89W, on Freedom of Information to the hon. Member for Aberdeen North, what further steps the Members Estimate Committee plans to take regarding FoI requests for data held by the House.

Nick Harvey: The House has appealed to the High Court against the Information Tribunal decision that full details of the additional costs allowance for 14 Members should be disclosed, on the grounds that the tribunal had misdirected itself in law, in particular in ordering the disclosure of private addresses.
	Further decisions by the Information Commissioner now need to be addressed. The Members Estimate Committee has taken the view that two such decisions, which require that the House should disclose less detailed information about the allowances of seven Members should not be appealed. This information will be released to the requesters shortly.
	The same principle will also be applied to requests for information on the claims of 14 Members about which the House has appealed to the High Court. Data on these 14 MPs will only be disclosed now to that lesser level of information (by category of expense but not down to receipt level). The appeal relates to more detailed information about addresses and receipts.
	The same level of information (i.e. by category—not down to receipt level) will be released about the expenses of all Members in the autumn, for the years 2004-05 to 2007-08. For the future, information compiled on a similar basis will be released quarterly, starting with the information relating to the first quarter of 2008-09 (April to June). This release of information will also begin in the autumn.
	The MEC remains committed to reviewing the allowance system and ensuring that there is probity and transparency

OLYMPICS

Departmental Advertising

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what initiatives for which she is responsible have been advertised to the public; and at what cost.

Tessa Jowell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Tom Brake) on 4 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 2307-08W.

Legacy Action Plan

Don Foster: To ask the Minister for the Olympics when she expects the Legacy Action Plan to be published.

Tessa Jowell: I intend to publish the Legacy Action Plan soon after purdah for the forthcoming local elections.

Olympic Delivery Authority

Don Foster: To ask the Minister for the Olympics 
	(1)  for how long a paper copy of the Olympic Delivery Authority's  (a) register of interests and  (b) register of gifts and hospitality has existed; and for what reason an electronic version has not yet been published;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2008,  Official Report, column 519W, on the Olympic Delivery Authority, when the Olympic Delivery Authority's  (a) register of interests and  (b) register of gifts and hospitality will be published; when they were (i) first commissioned and (ii) originally due for publication; and what the reasons are for the time taken for the registers to be published.

Tessa Jowell: The Olympic Delivery Authority's (ODA) register of gifts and hospitality was published on the London 2012 website on 14 March 2008. A copy has also been placed in the House Library. The register of gifts and hospitality covers registrations up to 31 December 2007 and includes the period prior to April 2006 when the ODA was an interim Authority. The registrations for the first quarter of 2008 will be published in the coming weeks.
	The current register of ODA Board Members' interests is due to be published on the London 2012 website in the week beginning 31 March 2008 and a copy will also be placed in the House Library. Details of prospective ODA Board Members' interests were required as part of the DCMS recruitment process and all ODA Board Members have signed the necessary ODA declaration of interest forms.
	Paper copies of the ODA's register of gifts and hospitality have existed for the period of the ODA's formal existence and its period as an interim Authority. The ODA's register of Board members interests has also existed since the ODA formally came into being.
	The publication of both registers was foreshadowed in my answer to the hon. Member on 31 January 2007,  Official Report, column 519W, in which I stated that the ODA intended to publish  (a) its register of Board members' interests, and  (b) its gifts and hospitality register in the first quarter of 2008.

Olympic Delivery Authority: Disclosure of Information

Don Foster: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what guidance the Government has given to the Olympic Delivery Authority on openness, transparency and accountability in dealing with requests from members of the public for access to information it holds.

Tessa Jowell: The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) was formally established on 30 March 2006 by the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act 2006. It is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and is a public authority bound by the Freedom of Information Act 2000 ("the FOI Act"). The ODA is subject to a Management Statement and Financial Memorandum, approved by the Minister for the Olympics and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, which sets out the rules and guidelines relevant to the exercise of the ODA's functions, duties and powers.
	The Management Statement makes clear the responsibility of the Chairman and Members of the ODA for ensuring that the ODA complies with its statutory duties, which would include its duties under the FOI Act. The ODA is committed to complying with its obligations under the FOI Act by fostering a culture of openness, transparency and accountability as appropriate.

Olympic Delivery Authority: Manpower

Don Foster: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many members of staff are employed by the Olympic Delivery Authority; and what teams they work in.

Tessa Jowell: The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) appointed a delivery partner (CLM) to programme and project manage the delivery of the venues and infrastructure for the 2012 games. The ODA has oversight and control of the venues and infrastructure programme, and directly manages transport, property, planning, communications and interaction with Government in addition to managing engagement with a wide range of stakeholders and partners.
	As of 31 March 2008 the Olympic Delivery Authority employed 164 permanent employees and 13 fixed term employees. The breakdown of employees is:
	
		
			  Directorates  Number 
			 Chief Executive's Office 3 
			 Chairman's Office 3 
			 Finance and Corporate Services (finance, human resources, legal, internal audit, equality and diversity, information technology, insurance and programme assurance 45 
			 Design and Regeneration 27 
			 Transport 26 
			 Construction (includes employment, skills and employment, health and safety, procurement) 23 
			 Communications (statutory consultation, public inquiries, community engagement, stakeholder relations, media, site visits, filming, internal communications, and marketing) 19 
			 Planning Development Control 12 
			 Infrastructure and Utilities 10 
			 Property (Village, IBC/MPC) 7 
			 Security 2 
			 Total 177 
		
	
	The ODA also has 21 staff seconded into the ODA from other organisations supporting directorates including Security, Construction, and Design and Regeneration.

Olympic Games 2012: Training

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister for the Olympics pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Henley of 10 December 2007,  Official Report, column 47W, on Olympic Games 2012: training, what the  (a) level and  (b) course title is of each of the 13 training places offered above level one.

Tessa Jowell: Provisional figures show that a total of 12 training courses (as opposed to 13 previously stated) were above Level 1. These courses are plant operation related and directly based on the needs of contractors on site. The 12 courses, all of which are level 2, break down as follows:
	Five courses for slinger/banksmen
	Three courses for 360° excavators operation
	One course for telescopic forklift operation
	One course for chainsaw operators
	Two CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) Level Two courses (Blue card)
	This local investment is part of a bigger National Skills Academy for Construction initiative led by the ODA. This partnership is likely to deliver a much larger proportion of training above Level 1.

Olympic Games 2012: Training

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister for the Olympics pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Henley of 10 December 2007, Official Report, column 47W, on Olympic Games 2012: training, how many training places had been offered for  (a) apprenticeships and  (b) level (i), one, (ii) two, (iii) three and (iv) four qualifications at the latest date for which figures are available.

Tessa Jowell: Since the launch of the Local Employment and Training Framework (LETF) in January 2007 until December 2007 (the latest period for which figures are available) 1,835 training places have been offered, the vast majority of which were at level 1, with 12 at level 2. Information on places offered since then is not yet available.

Olympic Games: China

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister for the Olympics if she will hold discussions with  (a) the International Olympics Committee and  (b) the Chinese authorities to urge them not to include the Tibetan Autonomous Region and the Chinese provinces which, taken together, constituted Tibet prior to the Chinese invasion, in the route of the Olympic Torch before the Beijing Olympics.

Tessa Jowell: We are aware that the Olympic Torch Relay is due to pass through Tibet and up Mount Everest on its way to Beijing. The passage of the torch relay through any country is a matter for the authorities of the country concerned and the International Olympic Committee.

PRIME MINISTER

Advisory Committee on Business Appointments: Standards

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Prime Minister if he will assess the effectiveness of the work of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments.

Gordon Brown: The work of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments has already been the subject of a review by the Public Administration Select Committee. Its report, "The Business Appointment Rules", published in June 2007, included consideration of an independent review carried out by Sir Patrick Brown. They concluded that
	"The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments has operated effectively, and we see little benefit in changing its composition, or its way of working".
	Copies of the reports and the Government's response are in the Libraries of the House. The Public Administration Select Committee is also considering further the work of the advisory committee in relation to its current inquiry on lobbying.
	The House will also wish to be aware that the chairman of the advisory committee, Lord Mayhew, has informed me that he wishes to step down from the chairmanship of the committee for reasons of ill health. I would like to place on record my thanks to him for the nine years of outstanding service and commitment he has given the committee and public life more generally. Sir John Blelloch, the vice chairman, will manage the committee's day-to-day business until a successor to Lord Mayhew is appointed.

Departmental Internet

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Prime Minister whether the IT system of 10 Downing Street is able to provide a record of Wikipedia entries  (a) created and  (b) amended from within his Office.

Gordon Brown: I know of no instance where my Office has either created or amended any records on Wikipedia.

Departmental Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister what the  (a) total staffing cost and  (b) average annual salary of members of the Number 10 policy unit was in each of the last five years.

Gordon Brown: The overall staffing costs for No. 10 are published on a regular basis following the end of the financial year.

WALES

Average Earnings

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the average annual  (a) earnings were and  (b) household income was in Wales in each of the last three years.

Paul Murphy: Average earnings figures complied by the Office for National Statistics are published as a weekly figure. The data for 2007, 2006 and 2005 are as follows:
	
		
			   Ave rage gross weekly earnings (full- time) (£) 
			 2007 472.1 
			 2006 466.2 
			 2005 (1)454.8 
			 (1 )Due to a change in Office for National Statistics methodology the 2005 figure is not directly comparable to 2006 and 2007. 
		
	
	The latest data on estimated gross disposable household income in Wales for the years 2003, 2004 and 2005 were published in March 2007 and are as follows:
	
		
			   Estimated gross disposable household income (GDHI) (£) 
			 2005 11,851 
			 2004 11,322 
			 2003 10,932

Brofiscin Quarry

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when Rhondda Cynon Taff Council were first advised by the Environment Agency to expect receipt of a list of appropriate persons in respect of the pollution in and around Brofiscin Quarry; when the Agency expects to provide the list; what the reasons are for the time taken; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Murphy: I am informed by the Environment Agency Wales that on the 7 March 2008 the Environment Agency apprised Rhondda Cynon Taff county borough council of the status of its investigation into potential 'Appropriate Persons'. The Environment Agency did not advise the local authority when it would receive a list of the 'Appropriate Persons'. The Environment Agency is still investigating who should be responsible for the cost of remediation in accordance with the provisions of Part 2A Environmental Protection Act 1990 and Statutory Guidance.

Brofiscin Quarry: Hazardous Substances

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2243W, on Brofiscin Quarry: hazardous substances, what the timetable is for the Environment Agency completing their investigation into responsibility for the cost of remediating the quarry.

Paul Murphy: This matter is within the devolved responsibility of the Welsh Assembly Government. However, I understand the Environment Agency is still investigating who should be responsible for the cost of remediation. In doing so, it must ensure that it acts in accordance with the relevant legislation and statutory guidance. The contaminated land regime does not prescribe a timetable for completion of the investigation.

Brofiscin Quarry: Hazardous Substances

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2008,  Official Report, column 1300W, on hazardous substances: Brofiscin quarry, what the original planned date for publication of the remedial options was; and what the reason for the time taken to publish is.

Paul Murphy: The Environment Agency had no original planned date for publication of its remediation option appraisal but it will place the information required by Regulation 15 and Schedule 3 of the Contaminated Land (Wales) Regulations 2001 on a public register.
	The Environment Agency intends to place that information on the public register as soon as reasonably practicable after it is generated.

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill (HL) 2007-08

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will hold discussions with the Health Minister in the Welsh Assembly Government on the effects of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, if enacted, in Wales.

Huw Irranca-Davies: My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Public Health (Dawn Primarolo) has had regular discussions with the Welsh Assembly Government during the preparation and passage of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill and I fully expect those discussions to continue.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Access to Work Programme: Fraud

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the  (a) amount and  (b) number of cases of fraud in the access to work scheme in the last 12 months; and what sanctions there are against people who commit such fraud.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 1 April 2008
	The level of undetected fraud in Access to Work funding is not separately estimated.
	From 1 April 2007 to 28 March 2008 Access to Work provided grants totalling £62 million to help around 40,000 people to keep or get work. In the same period 28 Access to Work cases were investigated because of potential fraudulent claims. The investigation identified a total loss of £190,573. Action taken resulted in savings of £123,605. Court proceedings were taken in three cases where fraudulent claims to Access to Work funds were identified.
	Any cases of deliberate fraud will be prosecuted for theft, and courts may consider the imposition of a fine or custodial sentence as well as ordering recovery of amounts overpaid. The Department can cease to deal with an organisation if it is felt that by doing so it would eliminate an unacceptable risk to public funds.
	Individuals may continue to receive support through the programme as long as they satisfy the eligibility criteria and comply with the terms under which their support was approved.

Consumer Goods: Nanotechnology

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many products containing free nanoparticles are available in the UK consumer market.

Ian Pearson: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government's aim is for the UK to derive maximum benefit from nanotechnologies and their products in a way that safeguards health, safety and the environment and addresses the aspirations and concerns of the public. The statement by the UK Government about nanotechnologies, announced in the written ministerial statement of 28 February 2008,  Official Report, columns 86-7W, explains what the Government are doing to deliver these objectives.
	The Government do not hold a list of products containing free nanoparticles although it has published a report on the manufacture and use of nanomaterials in the UK
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/nanotech/research/reports/index.htm#manufacture
	To promote a standardised approach to labelling and ensure that products containing manufactured nanoparticles can be correctly identified, the British Standards Institute has recently published a good practice guidance document PAS 130:2007 "Guidance on the labelling of manufactured nanoparticles and products containing manufactured nanoparticles".
	The Research Councils are undertaking public dialogue on nanotechnologies and the topic is likely to feature in work resulting from the recent programme of stakeholder engagement to identify the implications of new and emerging science and technology.
	Government Departments and agencies are keeping under review the need for action to address regulatory gaps in the light of emerging evidence. The ministerial group on Nanotechnologies (which comprises the Ministers for Science and Innovation; the Environment; Public Health; Health and Safety; and Business and Competitiveness) will oversee the process and will also review progress on delivery of the Government's other commitments regarding nanotechnologies.

Departmental Advertising

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which of his Department's initiatives have been advertised to the public in each of the last 10 years; and what the cost of each such campaign was.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions was formed on 8 June 2001 from parts of the former Department of Social Security, the former Department for Education and Employment and the Employment Service. Information on costs prior to 2002-03 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department runs a number of promotional campaigns aimed at increasing awareness of rights and responsibilities. The following table details spend on advertising campaigns run by the Department in each of the last five complete financial years.
	Government policies and programmes affect the lives of millions of people and in order for them to work they must be communicated effectively. But that also has to be done with cost efficiency in mind and there are strict rules to ensure value for money on Government advertising.
	
		
			  Departmental advertising costs  £000 
			  2006-07( 1)  
			 Age Partnership Group 9 
			 Age Positive 40 
			 Targeting benefit fraud 5,418 
			 Reducing customer error 45 
			 The Pension Service core benefit take up 881 
			 Winter fuel payments 343 
			 Child maintenance enforcement 107 
			 Jobcentre Plus promotion to Black and Minority Ethnic audience 687 
			 Job Done 765 
			 Jobseeker's Allowance 50+ Pilot 83 
			 Lone parent 171 
			   
			  2005-06( 1)  
			 State pension deferral 300 
			 Images of disability 2 
			 Targeting benefit fraud 4,553 
			 Pension credit 362 
			 Winter fuel payments 918 
			 State second pension 675 
			 Age Partnership group 19 
			 National sector campaign 23 
			   
			  2004-05( 1)  
			 Age Positive 29 
			 State pension deferral 115 
			 Disability Discrimination Act 1,992 
			 Targeting benefit fraud 6,017 
			 Direct payment 8,379 
			 Council tax benefit 674 
			 Pension credit 4,388 
			 Winter fuel payments 515 
			 Lone parent leaflet promotion marketing 216 
			 National vacancy campaign 390 
			 IB reforms pilots 106 
			   
			  2003-04( 1)  
			 Age positive 70 
			 Second state pension 216 
			 Pension service awareness 906 
			 New Deal 5,678 
			 Disability Discrimination Act 40 
			 Targeting benefit fraud 8,383 
			 Direct payment 11,095 
			 Council tax benefit 556 
			 Pension credit 9,907 
			 Winter fuel payments 625 
			 Jobseekers direct 1,632 
			 IB reforms pilot 113 
			 Jobcentre Plus customer marketing 1,401 
			 National employer campaign 1,158 
			   
			  2002-03( 1)  
			 Age positive 706 
			 Future pensioners/informed choice 2,878 
			 Second state pension 489 
			 New Deal for Musicians 33 
			 Disability Discrimination Act 50 
			 Targeting benefit fraud 35 
			 Direct payment 858 
			 Winter fuel payments 627 
			 Inherited serps 646 
			 (1) The tables do not include the following as the information is not held centrally and to obtain it would incur disproportionate cost: spend by non-departmental bodies for which the Department is responsible; details of highly localised publicity activity by the Department's customer-facing businesses; recruitment or procurement advertising; Jobcentre Plus publicity during 2002-03 as at that time allocations sat with individual policy teams and within regional budgets. 
		
	
	The information in the tables relates to media buying expenditure only, which forms the bulk of departmental publicity expenditure, but excludes direct mail, public relations, production and other costs. All figures are exclusive of VAT.

Departmental Manpower

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff his Department recruited in each of the last 10 years; what proportion of these did not have their employment continued at the end of their probationary period in each year, broken down by reason for discontinuance.

Anne McGuire: The Department does not collect data in the format requested.
	On 26 June 2006 DWP introduced a new probationary policy which applies to all staff. However while we do record the numbers of staff who leave, we do not record the reasons why they leave. Obtaining the data requested would be at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Postal Services

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the effect on his Department's expenditure of using  (a) UK Mail and  (b) Royal Mail for its correspondence.

Anne McGuire: In 2007-08, it is expected that DWP will spend approximately £15 million with UK Mail to handle 60+ million items of second-class mail from our regional delivery centres. This arrangement saves the Department approximately £2 million per annum against previous provision with Royal Mail.
	DWP continues to be a major user of Royal Mail's postal services, spending £37.5 million with them in 2007-08 to deliver 100+ million items.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether consideration has been given to applying gender responsive budgeting to his Department's budget.

Anne McGuire: The UK Government are supportive of efforts to achieve gender equality and continue to work very closely with both the Women's National Commission and the Women's Budget Group on promoting gender equality within the UK.
	In 2004, HM Treasury undertook a pilot project on gender analysis of expenditure with the Women's Budget Group. The project demonstrated the value of gender analysis in some areas and identified what tools and expertise were necessary within government to carry out gender analysis, but that further work was needed before gender responsive budgeting could be implemented.
	In 2008, HM Treasury will be conducting further work that will determine whether it is prudent and feasible to disaggregate departmental expenditure statistics by gender.
	All policy needs to have been gender impact assessed if it affects the Department's customers or staff. Gender equality issues have been central to developing the Pensions Act 2007, and to the current Pension Reform Bill going through Parliament. DWP has produced and published two extensive gender impact assessments alongside this legislation which demonstrate how these pension reforms will contribute to achieving equality of outcome in state pension provision, and equality of opportunity in building up private pension rights.

Departmental Publications

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions where the "Risking It All—Targeting Benefit Thieves" newsletter has been distributed to; how it was decided where to deliver them; and what the cost was.

James Plaskitt: The "Risking It All" door drop forms part of the wider Targeting Benefit Thieves campaign to reduce benefit fraud amongst DWP customers. Tackling benefit fraud is an ongoing priority for the Department—in all benefits, we currently estimate that benefit fraud costs the country a total of £0.8 billion each year.
	The campaign is targeted at 50 local authority areas across England, Scotland and Wales with the highest numbers of working age benefit claimants. The newsletter was distributed in 27 of those local authority areas:
	Birmingham
	Bradford
	Brent
	Brighton and Hove
	Bristol
	Cardiff
	Coventry
	Edinburgh
	Glasgow
	Greenwich
	Hackney
	Haringey
	Hull
	Lambeth
	Leicester
	Liverpool
	Newcastle
	Newham
	North Lanarkshire
	Nottingham
	Rhondda Cynon Taff
	Sefton
	Southwark
	Stoke on Trent
	Sunderland
	Wigan
	Wirral
	The newsletter activity is part of the benefit fraud campaign and is still ongoing. Final spend figures for 2007-08 are not yet available—estimated costs for the newsletter are £235,000.

Employment: Learning Disability

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to support people with acute learning disabilities into sustainable work.

Anne McGuire: The specialist disability employment and advisory services help people with a range of disabilities, including those with a learning disability. Around one third of all those helped on the WORKSTEP programme of supported employment are people with a learning disability.
	We work extensively with other Government Departments and agencies to secure better work outcomes for people with a learning disability. The "Getting A Life" demonstration project, which is jointly funded by this Department, the Department of Health, the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, and the Department for Children, Schools and Families, will be implemented in seven areas from April. The project will address the issues faced by young people with learning disabilities as they move from compulsory education to adult life. The aim is to help join up employment, education and local authority day services for people with a learning disability and smooth their transition from school, through college or training into employment or, where appropriate, other activities.

Housing Benefits

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households received housing benefit in each quarter since 1990, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available.

Income Support: Mortgages

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of extending the eligibility criteria to cover mortgage repayments in addition to eligible rents.

Anne McGuire: The information is not available.

Ministers: Pay

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what salary each of his Department's Ministers drew  (a) in 2006-07 and  (b) since July 2007.

Anne McGuire: The information regarding the salary drawn by the Department's Ministers in 2006-07 is available in the DWP Resource Accounts published in September 2007.
	Annual salaries since July 2007 are as shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Post and name  Annual salary (£) 
			 Secretary of State 76,904 
			 Minister of State for Pension Reform 39,893 
			 Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform 39,893 
			 Minister for Disabled People and Parliamentary Under Secretary (Commons) 30,280 
			 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister for the East of England(1) 30,280 
			 Parliamentary Under Secretary (Commons) 30,280 
			 Parliamentary Under Secretary (Lords) Unpaid 
			 (1) The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister for the East of England has since moved to the Government Equalities Office.

Occupational Pensions

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) public and  (b) private sector open defined benefit occupational pension schemes there were in each year since 1997.

Mike O'Brien: The Government are committed to enhancing and protecting existing occupational pension provision, including good quality defined benefit schemes in both the public and private sector. The Pensions Bill includes a number of deregulation changes including the reduction in the revaluation cap on deferred pensions to 2.5 per cent. from 5 per cent. leading to average savings of £250 million a year.
	The movement away from defined benefit to defined contribution schemes is well documented; the Government will continue to work with stakeholders as part of the rolling deregulatory review to encourage employers to keep existing schemes open, while balancing the needs of the employee.
	Estimates of the number of public and private sector open defined benefit occupational pension schemes have only been available since 2000. This information is set out in the following table.
	
		
			   Public  Private 
			 2006 130 3,470 
			 2005 — 6,230 
			 2004 260 6,280 
			 2000 250 18,350 
			  Notes: 1. Figure for average annual savings (£250 million) is in 2007-08 prices. 2. All figures are estimates and are taken from the Occupational Pension Schemes Survey, years 2006, 2005, 2004 and 2000. Data for years 2000 to 2005 inclusive were produced by the Government Actuary's Department (GAD). Data from 2006 were produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). 2006 is the latest year published. The coverage of the survey is the UK. 3. Unlike other years, the 2005 survey, only covered private sector schemes. 4. Private sector estimates are for occupational pension schemes with one section only. These exclude schemes offering benefits on different bases to different groups of members.  Source: Occupational Pension Schemes Survey.

Poverty: Disabled

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans his Department has to tackle disability poverty.

Anne McGuire: The Government are committed to tackling all aspects of disability poverty and has made considerable progress. In terms of financial poverty the number of disabled individuals in households with an income below 60 per cent. of median on an after housing cost basis fell by 500,000 in Great Britain between 1998-99 and 2005-06.
	The 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review announced measures that would support the alleviation of disability poverty, including commitments to tackle the issues of aspirational poverty and poverty of opportunities. These include measures to narrow gaps in educational achievement, employment outcomes and to promote equality.
	The Office for Disability Issues' annual report, in December 2007, published a set of measures of income poverty and material deprivation which will be used to track Government progress towards equality. These measures are based on consultation with disabled people.
	 Notes:
	1. Data are taken from the households below average income series 2005-06.
	2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100,000.
	3. The definition of disability used by HBAI changed in 2002-03. It is not possible to separate out definitional and real effects. For 1998-99, available data exclude Northern Ireland, therefore changes across Great Britain between 1998-99 and 2005-06 have been presented.

Rackspace

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the value was of each contract awarded to Rackspace by  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies in each of the last nine years.

Stephen Timms: Since the Department for Work and Pensions was created in June 2001, no contracts have been awarded to Rackspace by the Department or its agencies.

Social Security Benefits: Spain

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 18 February 2008,  Official Report, column 16, what information his Department holds on the benefits available to UK citizens living in Spain.

James Plaskitt: UK citizens who move to live in Spain may be able to claim UK and Spanish benefits. The exact nature of the benefits they can receive depends on where they have worked, whether they meet the relevant entitlement conditions and how the benefits are covered under the European social security coordination rules.
	People who move from the UK to live in Spain may continue to be covered by the UK for social security purposes, because for example they receive a UK contributory benefit. These rules cover old age, survivors, invalidity, unemployment, sickness, maternity, and family benefits. The UK is responsible for the healthcare costs of certain UK citizens, mostly pensioners, who are resident in Spain and who receive Spanish healthcare on the same basis as Spanish citizens.
	There are a number of factors that determine which Spanish benefits a UK national resident in Spain can receive; including whether the benefit is covered by the coordination rules, and the entitlement conditions for the benefits. The UK does not hold detailed information on the benefits systems of other states. However, if UK citizens had worked in Spain they could be entitled to Spanish contributory benefits.

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  which provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities the Government plans to enter reservations against when it ratifies the convention;
	(2)  what changes he plans to bring forward to UK legislation to enable the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to be implemented once ratified.

Anne McGuire: Departments and the devolved Administrations have been scrutinising their legislation, policies, practices and procedures to check compatibility with the provisions of the convention. This phase of the work is now over and we are considering carefully the emerging findings. We will announce our conclusions as soon as practicable.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Bees: Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's bee health strategy.

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to publish his Department's strategy for bee health; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: h olding answer 1 April 2008
	 DEFRA is developing a bee health strategy in conjunction with stakeholders which will set out the objectives and priorities for the bee health programme over the next 10 years and outline the roles and responsibilities of Government and the beekeeping industry. It is intended that the strategy will be published after public consultation in the summer of 2008.

Bluetongue Disease: Disease Control

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to promote uptake of the bluetongue vaccination among farmers.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 25 March 2008
	 The emergency bluetongue vaccination plan, developed in close collaboration with a core group of industry stakeholders, outlines how mass vaccination can be best achieved through a voluntary approach. The plan will be supported by a sustained, intensive and widespread campaign promoting the benefits of vaccination, led by the farming industry in partnership with the Government and veterinary organisations.
	The campaign will include reports in farming, veterinary and national media, regional meetings and the distribution of information at livestock auction markets. Known infected premises will be targeted directly through promotional activity because experience from mainland Europe and advice from epidemiologists suggests that infected premises will be the most likely source of infection when the disease re-emerges later this year.

Carbon Emissions: International Cooperation

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps have been taken in pursuance of the statement of the UK/India summit on 21 January that long-term convergence of per capita emission rates is an important and equitable principle that should be seriously considered in the context of international climate change negotiations.

Phil Woolas: Officials from the British high commission have had initial discussions with their counterparts in the Indian government with a view to developing collaborative work on the practical implications of this principle.
	In May 2007 we published research, 'Factors Underpinning Future Action', which includes an assessment of long-term convergence of per capita emission rates. This is available on DEFRA's website.
	We have also developed a model which uses existing work to explore the costs and financial flows associated with different methods of sharing out the global greenhouse gas mitigation effort, including convergence of per capita emissions. The UK described the model at a side-event at the United Nations climate change negotiations in Bali in December 2007. This is also published on the UNFCCC website. We hope to collaborate with other governments and institutions to improve the credibility and robustness of the results by exploring the implications of different data sets and other scenarios.

Cement: Pollution

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what monitoring systems are in place for assessing the levels of particles produced by cement works.

Jonathan R Shaw: Operators of cement plants are required to install continuous emission monitors (CEMs) for specified key emissions including particulates. The CEMs undergo daily internal calibration checks and a mandatory independent quality assurance check in accordance with the relevant British standard. Operators provide the Environment Agency with records of each measured daily average for particulates.

Chemicals

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in what circumstances the Environment Agency attributes aroclors to groups of polychlarinated biphenyl congeners.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency does not normally attribute polychlorinated biphenyl congeners to any specific manufacturer.

Climate Change

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications for the UK if the Wilkins Ice Shelf continues to melt at its current rate.

Phil Woolas: The Antarctic Peninsula has experienced unprecedented warming over the last 50 years and the collapse of part of the Wilkins Ice Shelf is a further indication of climate change in this area. Several ice shelves have retreated in the past 30 years and six have collapsed completely, including the Larsen B Ice Shelf, which collapsed in 2002.
	As the Wilkins Ice Shelf is already floating, the loss of this area of ice will not cause an increase in sea level. Sea level will only rise if the ice held back by the ice shelf flows more quickly into the sea. The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) are working with international colleagues to monitor the situation.
	Although the loss of this piece of the Wilkins Ice Shelf is of concern, it is not expected to have any direct implications for the UK.

Climate Change

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what analysis his Department has carried out of possible links between recent flooding incidents in the UK and global warming.

Phil Woolas: Sir Michael Pitt's Interim Review of the summer 2007 floods considered climate change impacts and provided a definition of climate change as "the change in average conditions of the atmosphere near the earth's surface over a long period of time". Although the summer 2007 floods were extreme in their nature, it would need a more frequent series of extreme events over time to confirm that this event was wholly climate change-related.
	However, there is already some evidence of an increase in more intense rainfall events, though not for any wide-ranging trend in flood peaks. The evidence for these trends featured recently in The Climate of the United Kingdom and Recent Trends' report from the from UK Climate Impacts programme and Met Office.
	The UK 21st Century Climate Scenarios (UKCIP08) are due to be published in October 2008. These scenarios are expected to be the most comprehensive package of climate information ever launched in the UK and will help us to adapt to the future risks of climate change. Under our resilience and adaptation project, the Environment Agency and DEFRA will be exploring the latest work from UKCIP08, so that we can better understand and use the science to support future climate change projections, and trend analyses.

Departmental Contracts

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contracts were awarded by his Department to  (a) KPMG,  (b) PricewaterhouseCoopers,  (c) Ernst and Young,  (d) McKinsey,  (e) Deloitte and  (f) other consultancy firms in each of the last 12 months; and what the (i) purpose and (ii) value was of each of these contracts.

Jonathan R Shaw: Information requested on the purpose and value of every consultancy assignment could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Expenditure by the core-Department with the five firms identified, for the first 10 months of financial year 2007-08, and the financial year 2006-07 is:
	
		
			  £ 
			  Vendor  April 2007-January 2008  2006-07 
			 KPMG 150,557.58 934,652.07 
			 PricewaterhouseCoopers 155,593.37 2,478,503.11 
			 Ernst and Young 213,790.23 63,767.26 
			 McKinsey 276,125.00 — 
			 Deloitte and Touche 48,521.63 138,269.29 
			 Deloitte MCS 5,198,320.10 1,157,656.14

Departmental Intranet

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 6 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2716W, on the departmental intranet, whether his Department's IT system is able to provide a record of Wikipedia entries  (a) created and  (b) amended from within his Department.

Jonathan R Shaw: To collate information on who within DEFRA has accessed the Wikipedia site would incur a disproportionate cost to the Department. It would be necessary to manually sort through individual records of access to the internet. This is an extremely large amount of data which is not held online. For those who had accessed Wikipedia it would not be possible to discern whether they had created or amended an entry.

Departmental Official Visits

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost was of overnight accommodation for  (a) civil servants,  (b) special advisers and  (c) Ministers in his Department staying overnight in (i) mainland Great Britain, (ii) Northern Ireland, (iii) the Republic of Ireland and (iv) other countries in the last 12 months.

Jonathan R Shaw: From information held centrally, the core-Department's expenditure on overnight accommodation for civil servants in the period January to December 2007 inclusive was (i) £2,416,929 in mainland Great Britain (ii) £6,245 in Northern Ireland, (iii) £445 in the Republic of Ireland and (iv) £66,809 in other countries.
	All ministerial travel, including overnight accommodation, complies with the terms of the "Ministerial Code" and "Travel by Ministers". When travelling on official business Ministers make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements. DEFRA's financial records for ministerial travel do not separate out overnight accommodation and this information could be generated only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the hourly rates of pay of all non-permanent staff working for his Department and its agencies were in each of the last 12 months; and how many staff were receiving each rate in each of those months.

Jonathan R Shaw: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Plants

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on pot plants in each of the last five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: From information held centrally, the expenditure on pot plants for each of the last four financial years is as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2004-05 21,200 
			 2005-06 17,300 
			 2006-07 19,500 
			 2007-08 25,400

Energy: EC Law

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make it his policy that assessments of buildings systems energy performance are undertaken within the scope of the revised Energy Performance in Buildings Directive.

Joan Ruddock: The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive sets out the general framework for the calculation of building energy performance and the assessment tools that have been developed for the UK (the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) for dwellings and the Simplified Building Energy Method (SBEM) for non-dwellings) comply fully with those requirements. If a future revision of the directive amends this framework then we would aim to comply with those requirements.

Energy: EC Law

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations he has received on the Energy-using Products Directive; and from whom.

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many representations he has received on the Energy-using Products Directive; and from whom.

Joan Ruddock: My Department has consulted extensively with industry. In addition, I have replied to 13 letters which I received on this issue. These were from individual businesses involved in the heating industry sent via their respective Members of Parliament. I have also responded to 45 parliamentary questions on this topic since January 2008.

Environment Protection: Television

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the (i) energy usage and (ii) environmental impact of plasma televisions compared to other types of television.

Joan Ruddock: The Government's Market Transformation Programme (MTP) has analysed the performances of a range of television types, including units with plasma screens. The annual energy consumption of televisions varies significantly with screen size and television type, with larger screen TVs using more energy, regardless of whether they are plasma, liquid crystal display (LCD) or cathode-ray tube (CRT).
	There is no significant difference on average in the energy efficiency of the different TV technologies currently available. A 32 inch CRT, LCD or plasma screen will all consume much the same energy, around 300 kWh. However a 42 inch plasma TV (a typical size for this technology) will consume 500 kWh per year under typical usage patterns.
	In the 2007 Energy White Paper, the Government announced that we will continue to work with the UK supply chain and seek commitments from manufacturers, retailers and service providers to deliver more efficient goods and services. To support this work, the Government consulted last year on our analysis of how the performance of consumer electronics products will need to improve over the next 10 to 20 years, including proposals for product standards and targets to phase out the least efficient products.
	Following completion of the preparatory studies on consumer electronics: TV, the European Commission will bring forward proposals for mandatory minimum standards under the Eco-design for Energy-using Products Framework Directive (EuP) expected in 2010. The preparatory studies analyse the environmental impacts of TVs in light of the market, consumption, technologies and consumer behaviour for the European Union.

Fairtrade Initiative

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will take steps to promote Fair Trade Fortnight 2008 among staff within his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Fairtrade Fortnight 2008 was promoted across DEFRA through the intranet and staff restaurants.

Flood Control: Finance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2008,  Official Report, column 400W, on what additional funding he is providing for the implementation of Sir Michael Pitt's recommendations beyond that allocated to the Environment Agency for flood defence work in 2008-09;
	(2)  how the figure of £34.5 million was decided upon as an initial provision needed to implement Sir Michael Pitt's recommendations;
	(3)  what budgetary provision has been made for financing the final recommendations of Sir Michael Pitt once they have been published;
	(4)  what steps his Department has taken to prepare to implement the final recommendations of Sir Michael Pitt in a timely manner once they have been published.

Phil Woolas: As announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in his written ministerial statement of 4 February 2008,  Official Report, column 50WS, an initial provision of £34.5 million has been set aside to fund work arising from the Pitt Review. This decision was discussed at the EFRA Committee on 6 February 2008. Not all the recommendations from the review are expected to be for Government to address. The funding allocated so far will not necessarily cover all the recommendations, and is subject to further consideration. We will determine how this should be spent when we see Sir Michael's final report and the priorities it contains.
	We look forward to Sir Michael's final report and recommendations. As always my Department stands ready to play its part in such actions as the Government subsequently decides.

Flood Control: Finance

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with Natural England on opportunities for using land for water storage to prevent flooding elsewhere; and whether the single farm payment can be used for such purposes.

Phil Woolas: In areas where flood risk needs to be managed, a range of options are always considered, including flood storage. Suggestions that farmers be paid to store flood water and other novel approaches to flood risk management can be considered within Environment Agency Catchment Flood Management Plans. Such an approach would be welcome if it secured the necessary flood management benefits.

Floods: Finance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to improve the resilience of local authorities to surface water flooding in light of the Pitt recommendations following the floods in summer 2007.

Phil Woolas: We are currently consulting on how to improve surface water management as part of the Government's Water Strategy, 'Future Water'. This provides a vehicle to take forward some of the key recommendations outlined in Sir Michael Pitt's interim report on the summer 2007 floods.
	The consultation looks at the role of local authorities both in relation to co-ordinating the production of Surface Water Management Plans and in promoting the use of sustainable drainage systems.

Floods: Housing

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of  (a) proposed new and  (b) existing homes in the Thames Gateway Interim plan area are within areas vulnerable to flooding.

Phil Woolas: There are currently 130,000 homes in the defended tidal and fluvial floodplain, representing approximately 25 per cent. of the total homes within the Gateway.
	The Thames Gateway Delivery Plan proposes 160,000 new homes for the Thames Gateway by 2016. The plan sets out the broad areas of development for new homes and the Environment Agency estimates that more than 50 per cent. will be in the defended tidal and fluvial floodplains.

Government Departments: Carbon Emissions

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government have taken to cut carbon dioxide emissions across Whitehall.

Phil Woolas: On 18 March, the Government published their response to the Sustainable Development Commission's latest assessment of Sustainable Development in Government 2007. This response reports on actions taken and planned, centrally and by individual departments, to achieve the sustainable operations targets for the government estate, which include targets to reduce carbon emissions.
	The central actions taken include:
	making financial support available to Departments through Salix Finance, a revolving loan fund that enables departments to invest in energy efficiency capital projects;
	funding the Carbon Trust to provide advice to Government departments on reducing their carbon emissions;
	strengthening the Sustainable Development Commission's watchdog function and ensuring Departments report annually on progress towards the targets;
	announcing in the 2008 Budget, plans to establish a "centre of expertise in sustainable procurement". The objectives of this centre, which will be overseen by a new Director General Post of Chief Sustainability officer within the Office of Government Commerce, include providing guidance and support to help departments rapidly develop the capability and capacity to deliver our commitments.
	The Government's response is available on the Cabinet Office website:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/reports/sustainable_development.aspx

Heating: EC Law

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will bring forward proposals for a system of grading heating controls according to their energy efficiency to meet the requirements of the Energy-using Products Directive.

Joan Ruddock: The Government encourage the use of heating controls and the installation of a minimum set of controls is a requirement of our Building Regulations. Nevertheless, the current consultation paper on improving the energy performance of domestic heating and hot water systems sets out indicative targets for better use of existing heating controls and advance controls.
	In discussions on the Energy-using Products Directive, the Government have asked the Commission to consider a system whereby heating installers would be provided with information on the performance of individual system components, including controls, together with an indication of the performance of these components in a system.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what procedures are in place to ensure that work carried out by firms under the Warm Front scheme is of a satisfactory standard.

Phil Woolas: Prior to registration as a Warm Front installer, interested parties must meet stringent selection criteria.
	Eaga also use a vendor-rating system to assess contractors against, as well as operational, financial and health and safety audits carried out twice yearly. Contractors who irreversibly fall short of these standards can be removed from the Warm Front scheme.
	In addition to these processes, my Department employs independent quality assessors to perform six-monthly audits of scheme delivery to assess standards of workmanship and customer service.

Horses: Disease Control

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the potential for cases of African horse sickness to arise in England.

Jonathan R Shaw: African horse sickness is included in the Specified Diseases (Notification and Slaughter) Order 1992, to implement the slaughter requirements of EU Council Directive 92/35/EEC, which lays down control rules and measures to combat the disease. Imported horses from at-risk countries outside the EU are routinely tested for African horse sickness which minimizes any likelihood of the disease arising in the UK.
	A "Strategy for the control of an outbreak of African horse sickness" is being produced by a working group under the chairmanship of the Horse Trust. DEFRA is one of the main contributors and promoters of this strategy. Working group members included representatives from the equine industry, academia, research organisations and DEFRA.

Incinerators: Pollution

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to monitor particles derived from the incineration of waste;
	(2)  whether his Department plans to extend the monitoring of particles produced by incineration of waste to include smaller particles.

Jonathan R Shaw: Operators of incineration plants are required to install continuous emission monitors (CEMs) for specified key emissions including particulates. The CEMs undergo daily internal calibration checks and a mandatory independent quality assurance check in accordance with the relevant British Standard. Operators provide the Environment Agency with records of each measured daily average for particulates. These monitors record emissions of all particles (PM10) below 10 micrometres, which include those below 2.5 micrometres (PM25) as a sub-set.
	Concentrations of particles in ambient air are monitored by the national Automatic Urban and Rural Network. PM25 is monitored in a small number of locations around the United Kingdom, although this number is increasing substantially. Data from these locations are publicly available from the UK Air Quality Archive website.
	There is no credible evidence to suggest that modern incinerators—which must comply with stringent EU emission limits—cause health effects, beyond those which could be attributed to similarly sized "conventional" combustion plant. A survey carried out in 2005 for DEFRA, and peer-reviewed by the Royal Society, endorsed this view, with the Royal Society declaring that health risks associated with incineration were "small in relation to other known risks". This view is also reflected in a supportive statement by the Health Protection Agency.

Ipsos MORI

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what payments  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies have made to Ipsos MORI in the last 24 months; and for what purposes.

Jonathan R Shaw: From information held centrally, the core-Department made no payments to Ipsos Mori in financial years 2005-06 and 2006-07. Financial systems record one invoice for £1,210.80 in July 2007 charged to the exhibits and exhibitions account. Additionally, between March and July 2007, Ipsos Mori undertook a survey commissioned from the Central Office of Information (CoI) by DEFRA on the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative (PSFPI) and its communication to schools and local authorities. The cost of this work was £53,500, paid by DEFRA to the CoI.

Local Government: Climate Change

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps the Government has taken to assist local authorities in tackling climate change.

Phil Woolas: The new Local Government Performance Framework for England includes an appropriate focus on climate change, with Indicators on mitigation and adaptation.
	DEFRA and Communities and Local Government jointly launched a new £4 million best practice programme to provide support to local authorities to allow them to provide effective delivery against the new climate change requirements of the performance framework. Delivery bodies such as the Carbon Trust, Salix Finance and the Energy Saving Trust also offer advice, support and Government funding on reducing emissions. To support private and public sector organisations in assessing the risks and opportunities of unavoidable climate change and planning their own adaptation strategies, the UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP) was set up in 1997, funded by DEFRA.
	We are also working to ensure that other policies relevant to local authorities—such as planning policy statements and guidance—reflect the need to address the risks and impacts of climate change.

Northern Rock: Environment Protection

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Northern Rock bank is subject to the provisions of the Environmental Information Regulations.

Joan Ruddock: Northern Rock bank is not subject to the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 as it does not fall under Regulation 2 (2).
	Article 18 of the Northern Rock plc Transfer Order 2008 SI No. 432 deems Northern Rock not to be a publicly-owned company for the purposes of section 3(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and nor is it performing a function of public administration.
	I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given on 21 February 2008,  Official Report, columns 634-37.

Recycling: Batteries

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what support is available to local authorities who want to increase levels of battery recycling;
	(2)  what plans he has to increase levels of battery recycling; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: We have recently consulted on the transposition of the EU Batteries Directive. When transposed, the directive will reduce the quantity of hazardous and non hazardous waste batteries going to landfill and increase the recovery of the materials they contain. Collection targets set by the directive for portable batteries are 25 per cent. by 2012, rising to 45 per cent. by 2016. The prohibition on incinerating or landfilling industrial and automotive batteries implies a 100 per cent. collection and recycling target for these batteries. The consultation closed on 13 March.
	We are in the process of analysing the responses to the consultation. We will publish a summary prior to the second consultation later this year.
	Research and trials to provide evidence for the consultation and to investigate the best ways of implementing the Batteries Directive have been carried out on portable batteries. The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has been working in partnership with a range of local authorities and not-for-profit organisations that already run recycling collection services to pilot portable waste battery collection trials in the UK. Trials include establishing 'drop off' points at supermarkets, as well as other methods of collection such as at the kerbside.
	Supported by funding from DEFRA and the devolved administrations, the trials form part of a wider effort to develop cost-effective ways for the UK to meet the targets of the Batteries Directive. The results of the various trials will be published later this month, and these will be used to help Government and batteries producers identify the best methods of collecting batteries to meet the directive's targets.
	It is important to stress the fact that under the Batteries Directive, which is a Producer Responsibility Directive, responsibility for the collection, treatment and recycling of waste batteries will lie with the producers of batteries. In order to fulfil their obligations, they may need to engage with local authorities to improve their collection network. Therefore, when the directive is enforced, local authorities wishing to increase the level of the batteries recycled will need to make contractual agreements with the compliance scheme or schemes representing producers of batteries in the UK.

Recycling: Batteries

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of batteries were recycled in each  (a) local authority area and  (b) constituency in each of the last five years.

Joan Ruddock: There has been no legislative requirement for waste household batteries to be separately collected and detailed statistics have not therefore been collected.

Sewage: Morecambe Bay

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the application (ref 017280252) from United Utilities to vary discharge consent from Fleetwood water treatment works if accepted on the quality of bathing water standards in Morecambe Bay.

Phil Woolas: The application for variation of the discharge consent for the Fleetwood Waste Water Treatment Works is being considered by the Environment Agency and further information is required from United Utilities. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has received a request to call in the application for his own determination. Paragraph 5 of schedule 10 to the Water Resources Act 1991 requires my right hon. Friend to consider whether or not to call it in, and he will do so once he is satisfied that he has sufficient information. This will include any potential impact on bathing water standards in Morecambe Bay. My right hon. Friend is currently waiting for the Environment Agency and United Utilities to complete their assessments before proceeding with this case.

Solar Power

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many solar energy panels there were in the UK in 2003; and how many panels there were at the most recent date for which figures are available.

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department does not hold information on the number of PV solar panels installed in the UK, as data on installations is usually collected in terms of installed capacity. The total PV solar installed capacity for 2003 was 5.9 MW. Installed capacity for 2008 is not yet available but based on an extrapolation from the installed capacity of 14.3 MW in 2006, it is estimated to be in the region of 19 MW.
	More information is available on the International Energy Agency website at:
	www.iea-pvpsuk.org.uk
	The Department does not hold the information on the amount of solar heating technology installed in the UK. This could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

JUSTICE

Bereavement Counselling

Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he will take into account  (a) commitments made in the Department of Health's Action Plan in response to the National Audit of Epilepsy Related Death 2003 and  (b) the recommended good practice of support to the suddenly bereaved in the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guideline on the Epilepsies 2004 in providing a revised version of the Charter for the Bereaved.

Bridget Prentice: The draft Charter for Bereaved People for a reformed coroner system takes account of relevant Government commitments and the many helpful and constructive comments made in response to previous consultations. The draft charter describes the services the bereaved can expect to receive from the coroners' service, and contains guidance on how the availability of support and bereavement services should be brought to their attention. I will be issuing the draft charter for further consultation in the early summer.
	The charter is an important way to ensure minimum national standards of service to bereaved families throughout England and Wales. The charter also expects coroners for a particular area to provide information to families on the main local voluntary groups which they are aware of, including those groups which offer support to those who have been bereaved as a result of sudden death in epilepsy or through other particular causes.

Courts: Security

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what security measures courts are required to put in place to deal with instances of disorder in the courtroom.

Maria Eagle: The security policy document of Her Majesty's Courts Service, 'Safe and Secure' contains detailed guidance on measures for courts to put in place to deal with disorder. It has been recently revised to include a range of specific scenarios setting out the kinds of disorder which might occur and the appropriate security reactions to them.
	'Safe and Secure' is a restricted document and it is not available for general publication to preserve the confidentiality and effectiveness of our security response.

Criminal Proceedings: Retail Trade

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will commission research to establish how many people are awaiting trial under weights and measures legislation for using imperial weights and measures.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 1 April 2008
	 I have been asked to reply.
	I have no plans to commission such research.

Departmental Contracts

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what contracts were awarded by his Department to  (a) KPMG,  (b) PricewaterhouseCoopers,  (c) Ernst and Young,  (d) McKinsey,  (e) Deloitte and  (f) other consultancy firms in each of the last 12 months; and what the (i) purpose and (ii) value was of each of these contracts.

Maria Eagle: The Ministry of Justice was established on 9 May 2007. Information for the last 12 months is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Details of consultancy firms used by my Department in the period from April 2007 until September 2007 are provided in the following schedule.
	
		
			  Service Provider  Brief service description  Expenditure April to September 2006-07 (£) 
			 2020 Delivery 12 weeks RDS help to increase capacity for statistical analysis and modelling 83,000 
			 Mike Lock Review IT system for collating management information for Parole Board 2,000 
			 Alexander and Partners Facilitated forums and groups discussing Witness Protection 15,000 
			 Alexander and Partners Facilitated forums and groups discussing Witness Protection 3,000 
			 Alexander Cameron Interview Programme for HR Senior Management Team 6,500 
			 Alexander Cameron Pay and Grading Project 600 
			 Aon Insurance Advice for new DCMF prisons 1,300 
			 Atkins Asset Management Framework Audit Commissions—Internal Audit. 54,544 
			 Atkins Ltd Pay and Grading Project 97,758 
			 Ben Crowe Citizenship insight Project and production of Family Justice Insight Paper 8,400 
			 Bird and Bird Caseflow—Case Management Legal Advice 66,000 
			 BIT Critical Caseflow Consultancy 35,000 
			 BMG Research Socio-legal research 3,055 
			 Bovis Lend Lease Provide scoping paper for taking forward refurbishment project on Gwydyr House 4,700 
			 Bridley Consulting Review of Judicial Training Administration 7,943 
			 Centre for Public Innovation CPI to produce a Strategic Mapping event for the ROM for SE England 12,750 
			 CESG Vulnerability analysis (IT Health Check) of a new IT system within the NOMS Directorate for the handling of UK 'Restricted' data 6,816 
			 CMAS—June Shurmer Chartermark Consultation 300 
			 CMC Logica Management Information and Database Expertise 110,948 
			 COI Communications Pay and Grading Project 52,146 
			 Collinson Grant Ltd London Probation Service Review of Operations 189,050 
			 David Nooney Review of Judicial Appointments Procedures 4,800 
			 Delia Coonan Support on designing e-learning 1,174 
			 Development Planning Partnership Planning reports on existing estate and specific planning advice 65,329 
			 Digits Industries Ltd Consultancy connected with development of Computer-Based Training 1,763 
			 Digits Industries Ltd Consultancy connected with development of Computer-Based Training 411 
			 Drivers Jonas Asset Management 27,759 
			 Eclipse Development of software to predict re-offending 10,000 
			 Effortmark Forms consultancy—providing expert advice on the revision of forms and user testing 2,820 
			 Ernst and Young Prison Performance Framework—Analyst 253,500 
			 Ernst and Young Workshop 37,500 
			 Ernst and Young Review of best practice for performance and capability assessment methodologies for IPPF and the selection of the first wave of Probation Trusts 35,000 
			 Ernst and Young Workshop consultancy 19,000 
			 Ernst and Young Initial assessment of strategic options 15,000 
			 Exeter University Report on influencing debtor behaviour in support of the HMCS PAN pilot 60,000 
			 First Assist Investigation Advice 2,322 
			 Capgemini Benefits realisation CJS IT, development and application of best practice tools 171,000 
			 Capgemini Facilitated forums and groups discussing Witness Protection 6,300 
			 GVA Grimleys Challenging Rating Assessments 47,496 
			 Hartley Provided OR Analyst support for the CJS Modelling work to support CSR 07 12,000 
			 Hazel Genn Qualities and Abilities Framework 3,600 
			 Heath Lambert Risk assessment project for Probation Trusts 4,020 
			 Hedra Consultant to produce a business case for Re Connect Project 40,000 
			 Hensby Communications Press and PR handling of Annual Report 1,125 
			 Higham Dunnett Shaw Consultancy and upgrade of Judicial Pensions Database 3,525 
			 HMSC Birmingham University Updating Prison Website 7,400 
			 Impact Plus Review of the Probation Change Programme 20,000 
			 Institute of Employment Studies Independent review of the Job Simulation Assessment Centre (JSAC) with the Management Selection Unit (MSSU) in Wakefield 45,360 
			 IPSOS MORI Health and social care survey (research consultancy) 12,014 
			 IPSOS MORI Customer satisfaction survey (research consultancy) 8,279 
			 Jo O'Driscoll Project Management of Annual Report 4,209 
			 John Garnett Specialist advice on claims issues 24,415 
			 June Shurmer Chartermark Consultancy 375 
			 KM Research and Consultancy Ltd Socio-legal research 8,343 
			 KPMG Policy Consultancy 49,500 
			 KPMG Development of an implementation snapshot document 49,000 
			 KPMG Work on the Change Strategy Review 44,800 
			 KPMG Report on the nature and type of regulatory frameworks 21,800 
			 KPMG Provision of management review and assessment for Communications Directorate 14,117 
			 KPMG Pensions/Appointments Law Commissioners 10,454 
			 Law Absolute Lawyer for Court Rules project supplementing in house legal 11,135 
			 Leapfrog Public Relations PR and communications—increase awareness of community justice in north Liverpool and increased confidence in CJS 13,860 
			 London Economics Research and analysis which formed part of our Consultation Paper on insurance contract law 7,459 
			 M Boleat Consulting Advice on setting up and implementing Claims Management Regulation 10,800 
			 Manchester University Prison Health Research Network with the Mental Health in Reach Unit 290,000 
			 Matrix Evaluation of Dedicated Drugs Courts 50,000 
			 Matrix Socio-legal research 16,729 
			 MBSM Consultancy—interaction with police forces and systems 15,073 
			 Melva Burton Consultant 15,000 
			 Mersey Care NHS Trust Segregation Project with the Department of Health 21,600 
			 Mitchelmores Solicitors Legal advice on property matters and resolution of CUPID Property Transfer Issues 659,525 
			 Modis International Ltd Development of computerised Case Management system 49,078 
			 Morgan Hunt Consultancy work to review the programme and project management reporting structures 7,191 
			 Mott MacDonald with support from PwC Business Process Re-engineering (Courts) Project 153,000 
			 Nicholson McBride Executive Coaching 18,345 
			 Nick Sanderson Investigation into holding of prisoners in court cells 9,555 
			 Office of Government Commerce Consultancy—advice for the Supreme Court Project 29,884 
			 Office of Government Commerce Review of C-NOMIS 24,913 
			 Oliver Wyman Carter Review 225,000 
			 Oracle Phoenix Sales and Investment Project 377,780 
			 PA Consulting Analysis of public perception of the CJS in order for the issue to be better covered in the 2008 CJS Strategic Plan. Facilitated a seminar on the issue 6,775 
			 PA Consulting Divisional Consultancy 99,000 
			 PA Consulting Courts Act—Post implementation Review 74,629 
			 PA Consulting Facilitated forums and groups discussing Witness Protection 10,500 
			 PA Consulting Cost-benefit of rolling out the Re-Connect prisoner resettlement scheme nationally 5,340 
			 Pakes Developed a Mental Health Effective Practice Audit Checklist 3,500 
			 Parity Facilitated forums and groups discussing Witness Protection 10,000 
			 Partnerships UK Procurement advice for DCMF Prisons 158,850 
			 Pat Johnstone Facilitated forums and groups discussing Witness Protection 6,400 
			 Paul Roscorla Associates Ltd, Metis Psychological Consultants, Myriad Solutions Optimising potential with the Leadership and Talent Development 20,400 
			 Penna Interim Executive Executive coaching 9,957 
			 Portchester Micro Tools Ltd. Evaluation plan for accredited offending behaviour programmes 28,200 
			 PRAESTA Executive Coaching 5,640 
			 Price Waterhouse Cooper Support to the finance team in all matters relating to the MoJ Finance Transition Project 120,000 
			 Price Waterhouse Cooper Carter Review 52,000 
			 Price Waterhouse Cooper Draw together existing analysis 24,675 
			 Price Waterhouse Cooper Diversity and Community relations consultancy 6,000 
			 Prof Richard Lamming Consultancy for preparation of a second seminar/workshop relating to the innovation and relationship management for a senior NOMS commissioning audience 5,000 
			 QI Provided support to the development of the cross CJS CSR Efficiency Plan 156,801 
			 Richard Bailey Esq. Advice and operational/logistics management of Inquest 9,700 
			 RM and BR Merkin Research and analysis on insurance contract law 500 
			 Robert Walters Programme content design—future leaders scheme 11,797 
			 Roy Walmsley International Prison Population Statistics 6,315 
			 Russell Reynolds Associates Delivery of project support office for MoJ Change Project 52,485 
			 Samantha Jones Consultant to review, oversee and provide periodic updates 1,750 
			 Sarah Cooke Ltd Advice on human rights issue 11,500 
			 Security and Standard Consultancy Provision of quality assurance and technical support services of the electoral modernisation programme 109,366 
			 Siemens Enterprise Commun. Pay and Grading Project 1,100 
			 SJT Associates Internal Estates Benchmarking System for Property 20,608 
			 Snap Survey Shop National Staff Survey with the HR Planning Team 13,300 
			 STC Energy Management Expert support on our energy monitoring system. Gathering and verification of half hourly data from our electricity supplier 20,328 
			 Stephanie Grundy Lawyer for Court Rules project, supplementing in house legal provision 12,373 
			 Stopgap Lawyer for Court Rules project, supplementing in house legal provision 31,467 
			 Stopgap Lawyer for Court Rules project, supplementing in house legal provision 17,373 
			 The Rialto Consultancy Ltd Consultancy Services 9,915 
			 The Whitehall and Industry Group Fees for the recruitment, placement and registration of two Non-Executive Directors to the JSB Executive Board 11,400 
			 The Whitehall and Industry Group Recruitment consultancy for non-executive member of Legal Services Reform Programme 2,350 
			 Tower Perrin Pay and Grading Project 103,971 
			 Tower Perrin Pay and Grading Project 36,909 
			 Tower Perrin Pay and Grading Project 2,400 
			 Tribal Supported the development an appraisal process to assist OCJR to better assess the projects within its portfolio 33,580 
			 Tribal Consortium Risk Management 27,454 
			 Tribal Consortium Skills Learning Training Materials for unpaid work supervisors 14,700 
			 Turner and Townsend Facilities Management Strategy Review 35,052 
			 University of Portsmouth Development of a redesigned qualifications framework 100,000 
			 Vice Versa Projects To run a Consensus Methodology 15,000 
			 Vice Versa Projects Consensus Methodology facilitator 10,000 
			 Ville and Co. Executive coaching 1,144 
			 Wheelers (Southampton) Framework Audit Commissions IAD Requirement 86,278 
			 Willis Ltd. Insurance consultancy services for the Supreme Court 8,402 
			 Winstone Developed a Mental Health Effective Practice Audit Checklist 2,500 
			 Wrigglesworth Consultancy Ltd. Publicity services 3,187 
			   5,540,117

Departmental Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the hourly rates of pay of all non-permanent staff working for his Department and its agencies were in each of the last 12 months; and how many staff were receiving each rate in each of those months.

Bridget Prentice: The breakdown of temporary civil servants along with permanent employees has been published as part of the Office for National Statistics Quarterly Public Sector Employment statistics as at 31 December 2007 for Ministry of Justice and it's agencies. A copy of this table is outlined as follows.
	
		
			  Ministry of Justice 
			   Number 
			  Gender  
			  Male  
			 Full-time 970 
			 Part-time 80 
			 Total 1,050 
			   
			  Female  
			 Full-time 1,130 
			 Part-time 220 
			 Total 1,350 
			   
			  Headcount  
			 Total 2,400 
		
	
	Statistics on the number of contractors and agency staff employed by Departments are not published. The Civil Service Statistics represent those employees paid directly from the Department's payroll. Any contractors employed via agencies, and not paid directly by the Department's payroll are not included.
	Information relating to workers employed through employment agencies and hourly rates of pay for all staff in the Ministry of Justice and its agencies is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Drug Industry: Disclosure of Information

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many pharmaceutical companies have been prosecuted for withholding information regarding their products since 1992.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 25 March 2008
	 I have been asked to reply.
	The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) records show no prosecutions of this kind since 1992.
	As a result of the recent investigation into GSK (the subject of a written ministerial statement on 6 March 2008), the MHRA plans further stringent regulations to place obligations on companies report safety issues timeously.

Firearms Act 1968: Convictions

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 28 February 2008,  Official Report, columns 1924-26W, on the Firearms Act 1968: convictions, what proportion of those convicted of offences under section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 of  (a) all ages and  (b) aged 18 and over were sentenced to immediate custody in each year from 1997 to 2005.

Jack Straw: The following table shows what proportion of those convicted of offences under section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 of  (a) all ages and  (b) aged 18 and over, were sentenced to immediate custody in each year from 1997 to 2005.
	The Courts Proceedings Database records five offences under section 5 of the Act. For two of the offences there is a mandatory minimum penalty:
	'possessing or distributing prohibited weapons or ammunition' under section 5(1) (a), (b), (aba), (ac), (ad), (ae), (af) or (c) of the Firearms Act 1968, as amended by section 288 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003.
	'possessing or distributing firearm disguised as other object' under section 5(1A)(a) of the Firearms Act 1968, also as amended by section 288 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003.
	The mandatory minimum is five years for those aged 18 and over, and three years for those aged 16-17. The mandatory minimum came into affect in January 2004, and does not apply to those persons who committed offences before this date. The maximum penalty for these offences is 10 years.
	The following figures are taken from the Ministry of Justice (formerly Home Office) Court Proceedings Database and relate to sentences imposed (including life and indeterminate sentences) and the average sentence length of immediate custody (excluding life and indeterminate sentences) for those sentenced for such offences where the principal offence is the one for which they were found guilty. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. Where a person is convicted on the same occasion of a firearms offences, and one such as homicide, conspiracy, robbery or GBH with intent (218 of OPA 1861) where the maximum is higher, the data in respect of the firearms offence will not have been included in the following table.
	The Lord Chief Justice and I have concerns about the quality of the data relating to mandatory minima. An earlier project was undertaken that looked at cases reported to the Court Proceedings Database during the first six months of 2006 where the mandatory sentence was not given to persons aged 18 and over. These cases were checked with the Crown courts concerned. Of 65 cases, 12 were found to have the offence incorrectly classified (although two were still subject to the five-year sentence). A further case had the custody duration recorded as five months instead of five years. Some 17 per cent. of Crown court cases checked, therefore, had the wrong offence classification. The majority correctly reflect the offence and court outcome although in few cases were the courts able to say whether exceptional circumstances, as allowed for in the Criminal Justice Act, had been the reason for the five-year sentence not being imposed. Among reasons quoted were 'gun incapable of being fired', 'defendant clinically depressed', 'technical breach only' and 'defendant too young for imprisonment'.
	The Ministry of Justice is now looking to see if the situation has improved by looking at data from the first six months of 2007.
	
		
			  Offenders sentenced( 1)  under section 5 of the Firearms Act (1986) 
			   Section 5 of the Firearms Act (1986) 
			   Sentenced (Number)  Immediate custody (Number)  Proportion (Percentage ) 
			  All ages
			 1997 785 107 14 
			 1998 1,040 171 16 
			 1999 813 138 17 
			 2000 738 143 19 
			 2001 745 131 18 
			 2002 789 176 22 
			 2003 903 216 24 
			 2004 1,055 283 27 
			 2005 1,115 318 29 
			 
			  A ge 18 and over
			 1997 744 103 14 
			 1998 995 169 17 
			 1999 764 136 18 
			 2000 694 139 20 
			 2001 677 129 19 
			 2002 718 166 23 
			 2003 834 206 25 
			 2004 975 270 28 
			 2005 1,031 306 30 
			 (1) Principal offence basis.  Offences under section 5 are: Possessing or distributing prohibited weapons or ammunition; Possessing or distributing prohibited weapons designed for discharge of noxious liquid etc.; Possessing or distributing firearm disguised as other object; and Possessing or distributing other prohibited weapons.  Note: These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system.  Source: RDS-NOMS, Ministry of Justice.

Firearms Act 1968: Convictions

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 28 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1924W, on Firearms Act 1968: convictions, how many people over the age of 18 years were convicted under Section 1 of the Firearms Act 1968 in each of the last 12 months; and what proportion of those were sentenced to immediate custody.

Jack Straw: The information requested on convictions and sentences under section 1 of the Firearms Act 1968 is provided in the table.
	The mandatory minimum for firearms offences does not apply to offences under section 1 of the Act.
	The figures in the table are taken from the Ministry of Justice (formerly Home Office) Court Proceedings Database and relate to sentences imposed (including life and indeterminate sentences) and the average sentence length of immediate custody (excluding life and indeterminate sentences) for those sentenced for such offences where the principal offence is the one for which they were found guilty. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. Where a person is convicted on the same occasion of a firearms offences, and one such as homicide, conspiracy, robbery or GBH with intent (218 of OPA 1861) where the maximum is higher, the data in respect of the firearms offence will not have been included in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of defendants aged 18 and over found guilty at all courts, sentenced and sentenced to immediate custody for offences under section 1 of the Firearms Act 1968, by month, England and Wales 2006( 1,2,3,4) 
			   Found guilty( 3)  Sentenced( 3)  Of those sentenced:  Percentage s entenced to immediate custody 
			 January 17 18 50 
			 February 14 15 53 
			 March 21 22 23 
			 April 23 19 42 
			 May 15 17 18 
			 June 17 16 25 
			 July 22 23 26 
			 August 12 12 33 
			 September 11 11 18 
			 October 19 16 25 
			 November 29 28 36 
			 December 19 14 29 
			 
			 Total 219 211 32 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Section 1 of the Firearms act 1968 covers offences of Non-compliance with conditions of a firearm certificate and possessing a firearm or ammunition without a firearm certificate. (3) The number found guilty may differ from the number sentenced due to the inclusion of people found guilty in a magistrates court but sentenced in the Crown court. For such people, magistrates courts records were used to determine the numbers found guilty and Crown court records were used to determine the numbers sentenced. Hence the dates of the two events would differ. (4) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: court proceedings database—Office for Criminal Justice Reform—Ministry of Justice

Firearms: Sentencing

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what percentage of people convicted of carrying an illegal firearm under the Criminal Justice Act 2003 received the mandatory sentence established by the Act in each of the last four years, broken down by age group; and what the average length of sentence of those convicted of carrying an illegal firearm under the Criminal Justice Act 2003 was in each of the last four years.

Jack Straw: The table shows the number of persons sentenced to immediate custody of possession of an illegal firearm eligible for the mandatory minimum, and the proportion that received the mandatory minimum.
	The mandatory minimum only applies to two offences;
	'possessing or distributing prohibited weapons or ammunition' under s. 5(1) (a), (b), (aba), (ac), (ad), (ae), (af) or (c) of the Firearms Act 1968, as amended by s. 288 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003.
	'possessing or distributing firearm disguised as other object' under s. 5(1A)(a) of the Firearms Act 1968, also as amended by s. 288 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003.
	The mandatory minimum is five years for those aged 18 and over, and three years for those aged 16-17. The mandatory minimum came into affect in January 2004, and does not apply to those persons who committed offences before this date. The maximum penalty for these offences is 10 years.
	The figures in the table are taken, from the Ministry of Justice (formerly Home Office) Court Proceedings Database and relate to sentences imposed (including life and indeterminate sentences) and the average sentence length of immediate custody (excluding life and indeterminate sentences) for those sentenced for such offences where the principal offence is the one for which they were found guilty. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. Where a person is convicted on the same occasion of one of these two firearms offences, and one such as homicide, conspiracy, robbery or GBH with intent (218 of OPA 1861) where the maximum is higher, the data in respect of the firearms offence will not have been included in the table.
	Courts are required to impose the minimum sentence unless there are exceptional circumstances relating to the offence or to the offender which justify not doing so. The purpose of the minimum sentence is to tackle gun crime and gun culture. It is not aimed at purely technical offences. Exceptional circumstances might therefore include where the holder of a firearms certificate inadvertently forgets to renew his authority or where a war trophy is discovered among a deceased person's effects.
	The Lord Chief Justice and I have concerns about the quality of this data and that relating to knife crime. An earlier project was undertaken that looked at cases reported to the Court Proceedings Database during the first 6 months of 2006 where the mandatory sentence was not given to persons aged 18 and over. These cases were checked with the Crown courts concerned. Of 65 cases, 12 were found to have the offence incorrectly classified (although two were still subject to the 5-year sentence). A further case had the custody duration recorded as five months instead of five years. Some 17 per cent. of Crown court cases checked therefore had the wrong offence classification. The majority correctly reflect the offence and court outcome although in few cases were the courts able to say whether exceptional circumstances, as allowed for in the Criminal Justice Act, had been the reason for the five year sentence not being imposed. Among reasons quoted were 'gun incapable of being fired', 'defendant clinically depressed', 'technical breach only' and 'defendant too young for imprisonment'.
	The Ministry of Justice is now looking to see if the situation has improved by looking at data from the first six months of 2007.
	
		
			  Persons( 1)  sentenced for firearms possession offences( 2)  involving mandatory custodial sentences, England and Wales 
			 Of which: 5 years or over ( 3)  
			  Age group  Total persons sentenced  Persons given immediate custody  Number  Percentage of total sentenced  Average custodial sentence length (months) 
			  2004( 4)  
			 16-17 49 10 5 10.2 25.0 
			 18-20 122 35 13 10.7 39.5 
			 21 + 565 206 63 11.2 35.3 
			 Total 736 251 81 11.0 35.3 
			   
			  2005  
			 16-17 32 9 4 12.5 26.0 
			 18-20 59 34 18 30.5 45.5 
			 21 + 294 199 124 42.2 48.6 
			 Total 385 242 146 37.9 47.3 
			   
			  2006  
			 16-17 15 8 5 33.3 29.8 
			 18-20 46 31 10 21.7 43.6 
			 21 + 220 173 126 57.3 54.0 
			 Total 281 212 141 50.2 51.6 
			 (1 )Principal offence basis. (2) Possessing or distributing prohibited weapons or ammunition or firearm disguised as other object. Firearms Act 1968 sections 5(1)(a), (ab), (aba), (ac), (ad), (ae), (af) or (c) and section 5(1 A)(a) as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 2003 section 287. (3 )Three years in the case of persons aged 16-17. (4) Many of the persons dealt with in 2004 will have committed their offences prior to the mandatory sentence being introduced in January 2004.  Note: These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.  Source:  RDS-NOMS, Ministry of Justice 27 March 2008 PQ(RN)139-08

Law Centres

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many community law centres there are; and how many closed in each of the last 10 years.

Maria Eagle: In 2000-01, the Legal Services Commission (LSC) contracted with 53 law centres and currently contracts with a total of 60 law centres. Contracted spend on law centres has increased from £6.7 million in 2000-01 to £11.6 million in 2006-07.
	The LSC does not have figures for law centres other than those it contracts with.

Law Centres

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many community law centres have given notice to his Department and the Legal Services Commission of an inability to continue  (a) to operate and  (b) to operate at current levels of service provision as a consequence of restricted funding; what response he has made to such notifications; and what steps he is taking to secure continued service provision to individual users of those community law centres which have given notice of an intention to close.

Maria Eagle: There is no expectation that any law centre will close because of Legal Services Commission (LSC) changes to the fee schemes. Out of the 60 law centres to which the LSC provides funding, four have indicated that they may cease to operate. These four providers have been affected by the withdrawal of non-LSC funding. Funding to law centres from the LSC has increased significantly over the last seven years from £6.7 million in 2000-01 to £11.6 million in 2006-07. It is not the only source of funding to Law Centres and the continuity of their operations depends on securing a range of flinders as well as on the general management of their business.
	The LSC has introduced transitional provisions to minimise any short term impact from the new fee arrangements while law centres and other not for profit providers adapt to and take the opportunities provided by these arrangements. It is also working with local authorities and other funders to develop arrangements for community legal advice that will provide greater stability in total funding.

Law Centres

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent through the Legal Services Commission on community law centres in each of the last 10 years.

Maria Eagle: The Legal Services Commission (LSC) came into being April 2000 and figures are available from this period onwards. The Legal Aid Board provided funding to Law Centres prior to the creation of the LSC, however, data on this cannot be obtained except at disproportionate cost.
	The LSC's total spend (help and representation) on Law Centres from 2000-01 to 2007-08 is detailed in the following table. The table also shows the LSC's legal help spend on not for profit organisations overall in the same period.
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Financial year  LSC funding to law centres  Total LSC NfP funding for sector (legal help only) 
			 2000-01 6.7 24.4 
			 2001-02 8.4 39.8 
			 2002-03 9.4 47.7 
			 2003-04 10.6 51.1 
			 2004-05 11.0 72.4 
			 2005-06 12.0 76.7 
			 2006-07 11.6 79.7 
			 2007-08 (1)11.5 (1)87.2 
			 (1) Figure to date—final figure calculated after the year end and not currently available.

National Offender Management Service: Cost Effectiveness

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what  (a) cost reductions and  (b) efficiency gains have been achieved by the National Offender Management Service since its inception.

David Hanson: The National Offender Management Service was established in 2004. The cashable and non cashable efficiency savings achieved since April 2004 under the NOMS Value for Money Programme (comprising the Prison Service, Probation Service, Youth Justice Board and NOMS HQ) are as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Cashable savings (cumulative)  Non cashable savings (cumulative) 
			 2004-05 66.37 72.069 
			 2005-06 157.692 133.183 
			 2006-07 182.912 205.656 
			 2007-08 237.976 276.692 
		
	
	The savings for 2007-08 are provisional.

Prisoners

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the ratio of  (a) prison officers and  (b) other prison staff to prisoners was in each (i) contracted-out and (ii) public prison in each of the last five years.

Jack Straw: The information requested is in the following tables.
	 Public  S ector  P risons
	Information on the ratio of prisoners to each officer and prisoners to other staff for each public sector Prison Service establishment in each of the last five years is contained in the following tables. The ratios given are a snapshot at the end of each March and the latest available date.
	
		
			  Ratio of prisoners to each officer( 1)  in public sector establishments 
			   As at 31 March each year 
			  Establishment  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Acklington 3.8 3.9 3.8 3.7 3.5 
			 Albany 3.4 3.5 3.4 3.6 3.5 
			 Ashwell 4.8 5.1 5.0 5.2 5.1 
			 Askham Grange 4.2 2.6 4.2 3.8 3.4 
			 Aylesbury 2.2 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.4 
			 Bedford 3.7 3.3 3.2 3.4 3.3 
			 Belmarsh 1.7 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 
			 Birmingham 2.8 2.9 2.8 2.7 2.8 
			 Blakenhurst 4.0 3.6 4.1 4.2 4,2 
			 Blantyre House 3.7 3.8 3.8 3.3 3.3 
			 Blundeston 3.1 3.1 3.0 3.1 3.1 
			 Brinsford 2.0 2.1 2.0 1.9 1.9 
			 Bristol 2.2 2.2 2.4 2.6 2.7 
			 Brixton 3.6 3.4 3.4 3.7 3.7 
			 Brockhill 1.5 1.2 1.3 2.2 2.3 
			 Buckley Hall 2.9 3.0 3.4 3.5 3.5 
			 Bullingdon 4.1 4.1 3.8 3.9 3.9 
			 Bullwood Hall 1.9 1.9 1.9 2.1 2.3 
			 Camp Hill 3.8 3.6 3.7 3.7 3.6 
			 Canterbury 2.8 2.9 2.7 2.7 2.7 
			 Cardiff 2.7 2.9 3.0 2.9 3.0 
			 Castington 1.6 1.5 1.7 1.9 1.7 
			 Channings Wood 3.8 3.8 3.9 3.9 4.0 
			 Chelmsford 3.3 3.1 3.1 3.3 3.0 
			 Coldingley 4.1 4.3 4.2 4.1 4.1 
			 Cookham Wood 2.1 2.7 1.9 1.9 0.0 
			 Dartmoor 3.6 3.8 3.7 3.7 3.6 
			 Deerbolt 2.6 2.4 2.2 2.0 2.4 
			 Dorchester 2.6 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.0 
			 Dover 2.6 2.2 2.1 2.4 2.5 
			 Downview 2.0 1.7 2.5 2.7 2.9 
			 Drake Hall 3.3 3.2 2.6 3.0 3.4 
			 Durham 1.7 2.0 2.6 3.0 2.8 
			 East Sutton Park 3.9 3-6 4.3 4.3 4.4 
			 Eastwood Park 2.4 2.7 2.1 2.4 2.1 
			 Edmunds Hill 2.2 1.3 2.8 2.8 2.7 
			 Elmley 4.0 3.8 3.7 (2)— (2)— 
			 Erlestoke 3.6 3.7 3.7 3.5 3.2 
			 Everthorpe 3.7 3.5 4.0 3.7 3.8 
			 Exeter 2.7 2.8 2.7 2.8 2.5 
			 Featherstone 4.3 4.2 4.1 4.4 4.3 
			 Feltham 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.4 
			 Ford 8.7 8.1 8.4 7.1 8.1 
			 Foston Hall 2.2 1.8 2.2 1.5 1.8 
			 Frankland 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 
			 Full Sutton 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3 
			 Garth 2.9 2.9 2.6 2.1 2.6 
			 Gartree 2.8 2.8 2.5 2.7 2.8 
			 Glen Parva 3.1 2.8 3.0 3.1 3.1 
			 Gloucester 2.6 2.5 2.4 2.5 2.4 
			 Grendon 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.6 1.5 
			 Guys Marsh 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.2 
			 Haslar 2.4 2.7 3.0 2.2 2.5 
			 Haverigg 4.4 4.0 4.2 4.2 4.1 
			 Hewell Grange 5.2 5.7 5.1 6.2 5.4 
			 High Down 3.2 3.3 3.1 3.3 3.8 
			 Highpoint 4.4 4.3 4.1 4.2 4.2 
			 Hindley 2.0 1.8 1.9 2.1 2.2 
			 Hollesley Bay 6.9 6.0 4.9 5.7 5.8 
			 Holloway 1.6 1.8 1.5 1.7 1.8 
			 Holme House 3.2 3;2 3.2 3.2 3.0 
			 Hull 3.0 3.0 2.9 3.1 3.1 
			 Huntercombe 2.3 2.3 2.0 2.3 23 
			 Kennet (3)— (3)— (3)— 0.0 2.2 
			 Kingston 1.9 2,0 2.7 2.6 2.6 
			 Kirkham 5.6 5.0 4.4 5.3 4.8 
			 Kirklevington Grange 5.0 4.8 5.0 4.9 4.8 
			 Lancaster 2.8 2.8 2.7 2.6 2.0 
			 Lancaster Farms 2.2 2.1 2.1 2.0 2.0 
			 Latchmere House 5.2 6.4 4.7 6.1 5.8 
			 Leeds 3.0 2.9 2.8 2.6 2.6 
			 Leicester 2.7 2.7 2.6 2.6 2.5 
			 Lewes 3.0 3.0 3.1 3.1 3.0 
			 Leyhill 7.5 7.0 4.6 5.6 5.1 
			 Lincoln 2.2 2.3 2.2 2.4 3.2 
			 Lindholme 3.4 3.6 3.8 4.2 4.3 
			 Littlehey 4.5 4.4 4.3 4.4 4.4 
			 Liverpool 3.2 3.2 3.0 3.1 3.3 
			 Long Lartin 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.1 
			 Low Newton 2.2 1.6 1.5 1.6 2.0 
			 Maidstone 3.7 3.6 3.8 3.6 3.1 
			 Manchester 2.9 2.6 2.4 2.5 2.4 
			 Moorland 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.4 2.3 
			 Morton Hall 3.0 2.8 2.6 2.7 3.2 
			 New Hall 2.0 1.8 1.5 1.7 1.8 
			 North Sea Camp 6.8 5.9 4.7 4.9 4.9 
			 Northallerton 3.4 2.6 3.8 3.8 3.6 
			 Norwich 3.1 3.3 3.2 2.8 2.6 
			 Nottingham 2.7 2.7 2.3 2.5 2.5 
			 Onley 1.8 2.6 3.1 3.3 3.2 
			 Parkhurst 2.6 2,6 2.7 2.8 2.7 
			 Pentonville 3.0 2.9 3.0 2.9 3.1 
			 Portland 2.7 2.3 2.4 2.9 2.6 
			 Preston 2.9 2.6 2.3 2.8 2.7 
			 Ranby 3.1 3.5 3.6 4.1 3.7 
			 Reading 2.4 2.2 2.4 2.3 2.1 
			 Risley 3.7 3.8 3.6 3.8 3.7 
			 Rochester 2.1 2.6 2.7 2.6 2.2 
			 Send 3.3 2.6 2.5 2.8 2.6 
			 Sheppey Cluster — — — 3.5 0.0 
			 Shepton Mallet 3.0 2.8 2.9 3.1 2.9 
			 Shrewsbury 3.2 2.7 2.9 3.0 2.9 
			 Stafford 3.7 4.1 4.2 4.1 3.8 
			 Standford Hill 4.7 5.2 5.7 (2)— (2)— 
			 Stocken 4.1 4.0 4.2 4.1 4.1 
			 Stoke Heath 2.8 2.7 2.7 2.9 2.2 
			 Styal 2.4 1.9 2.2 2.1 2.2 
			 Sudbury 8.0 8.0 8.6 7.5 8.2 
			 Swaleside 3.1 3.0 3.1 (2)— (2)— 
			 Swansea 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.9 2.7 
			 Swinfen Hall 2.2 2.2 3.0 2.9 2.9 
			 The Mount 5.1 4.8 4.6 4.7 4.3 
			 The Verne 5.4 5.2 5.0 5.1 5.0 
			 Thorn Cross 2.3 2.5 2.0 1.9 1.8 
			 Usk/Prescoed 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.7 1.6 
			 Wakefield 1.5 1.5 1.7 1.8 1.7 
			 Wandsworth 3.6 3.8 3.7 3.9 3.7 
			 Warren Hill 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.5 
			 Wayland 4.7 4.6 4.6 4.7 3.4 
			 Wealstun 3.0 3.7 3.9 4.0 3.9 
			 Weare 3.3 3.5 (4)— (4)— (4)— 
			 Wellingborough 3.7 3.1 3.3 3.7 3.6 
			 Werrington 1.8 1.5 1.8 1.8 1.3 
			 Wetherby 1.8 2.1 2.0 2.0 1.9 
			 Whatton 3.9 3.5 2.6 3.7 3.7 
			 Whitemoor 0.9 0.9 1.0 1.0 1.0 
			 Winchester 2.7 3.1 3.3 2.6 2.9 
			 Woodhill 1.8 1.7 1.8 1.8 1.9 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 3.9 3.7 3.9 4.0 3.9 
			 Wymott 3.5 4.1 4.1 4.1 3.8 
			 (1) Includes prison officers, senior officers and principal officers. (2) Clustered. (3) Not open. (4) Closed. 
		
	
	
		
			  Ratio of Prisoners to each non-officer member of staff in public sector establishments 
			   As at 31 March each year 
			  Establishment  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Acklington 4.5 4.7 4.1 4.0 3.9 
			 Albany 3.0 3.3 2.8 3.0 2.6 
			 Ashwell 3.1 3.2 3.0 3.0 2.9 
			 Askham Grange 2.5 1.5 2.0 1.8 1.9 
			 Aylesbury 2.1 2.4 2.8 2.9 3.0 
			 Bedford 4.1 4.2 4.4 4.2 4.3 
			 Belmarsh 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.1 
			 Birmingham 4.8 5.0 4.9 5.1 5.0 
			 Blakenhurst 5.1 4.8 5.2 5.3 5.2 
			 Blantyre House 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.6 2.6 
			 Blundeston 3.1 3.1 3.3 3.4 3.3 
			 Brinsford 2.4 2.4 2.7 2.7 2.5 
			 Bristol 2.6 2.9 3.0 3.4 3.6 
			 Brixton 4.9 4.4 4.9 4.8 5.0 
			 Brockhill 1.3 1.1 1.6 2.1 2.1 
			 Buckley Hall 2.3 2.9 3.3 3.3 3.1 
			 Bullingdon 5.1 4.3 4.5 4.0 3.8 
			 Bullwood Hall 1.5 1.4 1.7 1.9 2.0 
			 Camp Hill 4.5 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.2 
			 Canterbury 3.7 3.0 2.6 2.7 2.9 
			 Cardiff 3.3 3.5 3.4 3.5 4.0 
			 Castington 2.1 2.1 2.3 2.5 2.4 
			 Channings Wood 3.6 3.6 3.4 3.5 3.4 
			 Chelmsford 3.9 3.3 3.3 3.4 3.5 
			 Coldingley 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.5 2.9 
			 Cookham Wood 2.6 2.5 3.0 3.0 0.0 
			 Dartmoor 3.3 3.3 3.0 3.4 3.3 
			 Deerbolt 2.8 2.9 2.4 2.2 2.5 
			 Dorchester 2.5 2.8 3.1 2.6 2.2 
			 Dover 2.1 1.8 1.9 2.2 2.2 
			 Downview 2.0 2.3 3.3 3.3 3.4 
			 Drake Hall 2.6 2.7 2.3 2.8 3.3 
			 Durham 2.2 2.3 3.4 3.8 3.3 
			 East Sutton Park 2.0 2,0 2.2 2.5 2.2 
			 Eastwood Park 2.6 2.7 2.2 2.3 2.2 
			 Edmunds Hill 2.5 1.4 2.9 3.1 3.3 
			 Elmley 4.8 4.9 4.7 (1)— (1)— 
			 Erlestoke 3.4 3.5 3.4 3.7 3.3 
			 Everthorpe 3.7 2.8 3.4 3.8 4.2 
			 Exeter 3.6 3.4 2.9 3.1 3.0 
			 Featherstone 3.3 3.2 3.3 3.2 3.4 
			 Feltham 1.9 1.5 1.7 1.6 1.5 
			 Ford 4.5 3.9 4.2 3.7 4.1 
			 Foston Hall 1.9 1.6 1.8 1.5 1.7 
			 Frankland 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.9 1.9 
			 Full Sutton 2.0 2.1 1.8 1.8 1.8 
			 Garth 3.3 3.3 2.8 2.7 2.9 
			 Gartree 2.9 2.8 2.3 2.5 2.5 
			 Glen Parva 3.0 2.9 3.0 3.5 3.3 
			 Gloucester 2.6 2.7 2.8 3.2 3.3 
			 Grendon 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.1 
			 Guys Marsh 3.5 3.8 3.4 3.7 3.6 
			 Haslar 2.1 2.5 2.7 2.1 2.3 
			 Haverigg 3.1 2.8 2.9 2.8 2.8 
			 Hewell Grange 2.3 2.4 2.1 2.6 2.4 
			 High Down 3.1 3.2 3.5 3.4 3.8 
			 Highpoint 3.4 3.4 3.5 3.7 3.5 
			 Hindley 2.6 1.9 2.1 2.1 2.4 
			 Hollesley Bay 6.1 3.7 3.1 3.3 3.4 
			 Holloway 1.9 1.8 1.4 1.6 1.9 
			 Holme House 4.1 4:5 4.7 5.5 4.9 
			 Hull 4.6 4.4 4.2 4.4 5.3 
			 Huntercombe 2.6 2.7 2.4 3.0 2.6 
			 Kennet (2)— (2)— (2)— 0.0 2.0 
			 Kingston 1.7 1.8 2.6 2.8 2.5 
			 Kirkham 3.1 2.9 2.6 3.3 2.9 
			 Kirklevington Grange 3.0 3.1 3.1 3.3 3.2 
			 Lancaster 2.3 2.6 2.7 2.4 1.6 
			 Lancaster Farms 2.5 2.7 3.3 3.3 2.9 
			 Latchmere House 5.0 5.3 3.9 4.8 4.5 
			 Leeds 4.7 4.6 4.9 4.3 4.7 
			 Leicester 3.3 2.9 2.7 3.4 3.2 
			 Lewes 3.4 3.4 3.8 3.7 3.6 
			 Leyhill 3.2 3.1 2.1 2.7 2.5 
			 Lincoln 2.5 2.4 2.3 2.7 3.7 
			 Lindholme 2.5 3.0 2.8 2.9 3.3 
			 Littlehey 4.3 4.4 4.3 4.3 4.2 
			 Liverpool 5.5 5.1 4.5 5.2 5.4 
			 Long Lartin 1.5 1.5 1.7 1.4 1.3 
			 Low Newton 2.3 1.9 1.6 1.8 2.2 
			 Maidstone 3.5 3.3 3.3 3.6 3.0 
			 Manchester 3.8 3.7 3.6 3.7 3.6 
			 Moorland 2.8 2.8 2.8 3.0 3.6 
			 Morton Hall 3.3 2.8 2.5 2.7 3.1 
			 New Hall 2.1 1.7 1.6 2.0 2.3 
			 North Sea Camp 3.3 3.4 2.4 2.9 2.7 
			 Northallerton 2.9 2.1 2.6 2.7 3.1 
			 Norwich 3.2 3.4 3.9 3.3 2.7 
			 Nottingham 2.8 2.6 2.5 3.0 2.7 
			 Onley 1.8 2.4 2.6 2.7 2.8 
			 Parkhurst 2.9 2.8 2.6 2.8 2.6 
			 Pentonville 4.6 4.4 4.4 4.5 4.5 
			 Portland 2.6 2.2 2.4 3.2 2.7 
			 Preston 3.6 3.1 3.1 3.6 3.5 
			 Ranby 3.2 3.3 3.8 4.0 3.6 
			 Reading 3.1 2.9 3.0 2.3 2.2 
			 Risley 4.3 4.7 5.1 5.1 4.9 
			 Rochester 2.1 2.5 2.5 2.6 2.4 
			 Send 3.0 2.8 2.4 2.7 2.7 
			 Sheppey Cluster — — — 18.0 0.0 
			 Shepton Mallet 2.4 2.1 2.3 2.3 2.2 
			 Shrewsbury 3.3 2.5 3.4 3.4 3.0 
			 Stafford 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.6 3.2 
			 Standford Hill 2.8 2.7 2.7 (1)— (1)— 
			 Stocken 3.9 3.8 3.8 3.5 3.5 
			 Stoke Heath 3.2 3.2 3.3 3.4 2.6 
			 Styal 2.6 1.9 2.4 2.3 3.0 
			 Sudbury 4.1 4.0 3.9 3.5 3.8 
			 Swaleside 4.7 4.8 4.8 (1)— (1)— 
			 Swansea 3.0 3.3 3.1 3.1 3.4 
			 Swinfen Hall 2.0 2.0 2.5 2.9 2.9 
			 The Mount 4.2 3.8 4.2 4.1 4.3 
			 The Verne 3.4 3.4 3.2 3.3 3.3 
			 Thorn Cross 2.5 2.5 2.2 2.2 2.0 
			 Usk/Prescoed 1.3 1.2 1.0 1.1 1.1 
			 Wakefield 2.1 2.1 2.6 2.5 2.3 
			 Wandsworth 4.6 4.5 4.6 4.5 5.3 
			 Warren Hill 1.8 1.7 1.6 1.9 2.0 
			 Wayland 4.3 4.2 4.2 4.3 4.0 
			 Wealstun 2.6 3.3 3.6 3.6 4.0 
			 Weare 3.9 3.8 (3)— (3)— (3)— 
			 Wellingborough 3.8 3.3 3.0 3.4 3.7 
			 Werrington 1.5 i;2 1.5 1.8 1.3 
			 Wetherby 2.2 2.1 2.4 2.2 2.2 
			 Whatton 3.6 3.0 2.1 3.2 3.2 
			 Whitemoor 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.5 
			 Winchester 3.2 3.5 3.7 2.8 2.9 
			 Woodhill 3.5 3.2 3.0 2.9 2.8 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 4.1 4.4 4.3 4.8 5.1 
			 Wymott 3.4 3.8 3.9 4.1 4.1 
			 (1) Clustered. (2) Not open. (3) Closed. 
		
	
	 Contracted Prisons
	Information on the ratio of prisoners to each officer and prisoners to other staff for each contracted establishment in each of the last five years is provided in the following tables. The ratios given are a snapshot at the end of each financial year and the latest available date as at the end of January 2008.
	
		
			  Ratio of prisoners to each officer equivalent( 1)  in contracted establishments 
			   As at 31 March each year 
			  Establishment  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Ashfield 1.8 1.4 1.9 2.2 2.0 
			 Altcourse 3.5 3.3 3.6 3.6 3.7 
			 Bronzefield(2) (5)— 2.5 2.3 2.4 2.5 
			 Doncaster 4.4 4.4 4.5 4.5 4.2 
			 Dovegate 5.8 5.2 6.8 4.6 4.9 
			 Forest Bank 4.8 4,9 4.5 4.5 4.5 
			 Lowdham Grange n/a 3.6 3.7 3.5 3.9 
			 Pare 3.5 3.3 3.6 3.7 4.0 
			 Peterborough(3) (5)— (5)— 2.5 3.0 2.9 
			 Rye Hill(4) n/a n/a 4.0 4.2 4.0 
			 Wolds 3.4 3.5 3.2 3.8 3.3 
		
	
	
		
			  Ratio of prisoners to non-officer staff in contracted establishments 
			   As at 31 March each year 
			  Establishment  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Ashfield 1.5 3.2 1.5 1.4 1.8 
			 Altcourse 5.1 4.7 5.3 6.0 6.1 
			 Bronzefield(2) (5)— 3.5 2.9 2.7 2.6 
			 Doncaster 3.5 3.4 3.0 3.5 3.47 
			 Dovegate 10.3 11.5 16.6 9.7 7.1 
			 Forest Bank 6.7 7.0 6.3 6.7 6.2 
			 Lowdham Grange n/a 2.9 3.0 3.4 3.9 
			 Pare 5.5 5.1 4.8 4.9 4 
			 Peterborough(3) (5)— (5)— 6.1 6.8 6.7 
			 Rye Hill(4) n/a n/a 6.7 6.43 5.6 
			 Wolds 6.5 5.7 3.7 4.6 3.7 
			 (1) Data is provided for HMPS prison officer equivalents in the contracted prison sector, prison custody officers and senior prison custody officers. (2) HMP Bronzefield did not open until June 2004. (3) HMP Peterborough did not open until March 2005. (4) Data for HMP Rye Hill prior to 2005 is not available due to archiving and could only be provided at a disproportionate cost. Information on staffing figures in the contracted estate is not collated centrally and has been requested from each contractor and is derived from their own HR database. (5) Not Open.

Prisons

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) high and  (b) medium security psychiatric beds exist in (i) prison facilities and (ii) health facilities used by the Prison Service; and how many (A) high and (B) medium security psychiatric beds were in use by prisoners in (1) prison facilities and (2) health facilities used by the Prison Service in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: Prisons are not designated for treatment under the Mental Health Act and there are no high or medium secure psychiatric beds in the prison estate.
	In NHS units in England, for 2006-07, the latest period for which figures are available, there was an average daily number of 2,993 mental illness secure unit beds, and 516 learning disability secure unit beds(1).
	Prisoners with mental disorder that meet the criteria for transfer under the Mental Health Act 1983 are transferred, as patients, to mental health facilities commissioned by the national health service.
	The number of prisoners transferred in the last five years are shown in the following table.
	(1) Source :
	Department of Health KH03 return.
	
		
			   Number 
			 2003 786 
			 2004 891 
			 2005 900 
			 2006 962 
			 2007 926

Prisons: Wales

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what representations he has received from Wrexham County Borough Council on the provision of a prison in North Wales in the last 12 months.

David Hanson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor has received no formal representations from Wrexham county borough council on the provision of a prison in North Wales in the last 12 months. However, NOMS Custodial Estates has had discussions with Wrexham county borough council in conjunction with North Wales Criminal Justice Board about the possibility of sites becoming a prison development in the Wrexham area.

Property Rights: Cohabitation

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to respond to the Law Commission proposals to reform the property rights of cohabiting couples published in July 2007.

Bridget Prentice: I refer the hon. Member to my written ministerial statement on 6 March 2008,  Official Report, column 123WS, announcing the Government's response to the Law Commission's paper, "Cohabitation: The Financial Consequences of Relationship Breakdown".

Sexual Offences: Rehabilitation

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the delivery of internet sex offender programmes in probation areas in Wales against delivery timetables in  (a) 2005-06,  (b) 2006-07 and  (c) 2007-08;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the delivery of community sex offenders programmes in probation areas in Wales against delivery timetables in  (a) 2005-06,  (b) 2006-07 and  (c) 2007-08.

Maria Eagle: National guidance to probation areas states that offenders sentenced to a community order with a requirement to attend an accredited sex offender programme should commence the group work programme by the sixth week of the order. In some cases this timetable can be altered at the discretion of the offender manager. There is no timetable for offenders on licence.
	Offenders waiting for a place on the group work component of the community sex offender treatment programme or the internet offender programme are under the supervision of their offender manager from the day of sentence. Before they commence either programme a full assessment is required in order to confirm their suitability for the programme; confirm the treatment plan; and identify the modules in which they should participate. During this initial period the offender manager will monitor the risk posed by the offender and manage it. Additionally the offender manager will normally prepare offenders for the programmes by carrying out set work.
	The information requested is contained in the following table. These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. The waiting times may include time that has elapsed while the offender is prepared for the programme or because an offender has been recalled to custody.
	
		
			Community sex offender treatment programme  Internet sex offender treatment programme 
			  Area  Data  2006-07  2007-08  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Dyfed-Powys Average time to start in weeks 39 20 — — 
			  Number of commencements 4 5 — — 
			   
			 Gwent Average time to start in weeks 33 34 — 43 
			  Number of commencements 11 13 — 5 
			   
			 North Wales Average time to start in weeks 38 44 — 56 
			  Number of commencements 36 16 11 1 
			   
			 South Wales Average time to start in weeks 55 49 63 66 
			  Number of commencements 20 13 1 4

Tribunals: Employment

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will instruct employment tribunals to  (a) award costs against and  (b) reflect in the value of awards those bringing or defending a claim irresponsibly.

Bridget Prentice: Employment tribunals are independent judicial bodies therefore neither the Secretary of State nor any Government official has the power to instruct or direct employment tribunals on the amount, or circumstances in which an award of costs or compensatory award should be made.
	The Employment Tribunals (Constitution and Rules of Procedure) Regulations 2004 give employment tribunals the power to consider an award of costs against a claimant or respondent in respect of costs incurred by the other party. This includes instances where a tribunal or chairman considers that a party or their representative has acted vexatiously, abusively, disruptively or otherwise unreasonably, in the bringing of proceedings. The amount of the award is determined by the tribunal in accordance with the guidance given in the rules.

Young Offender Institutions: Restraint Techniques

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what his policy is on the use of restraints in establishments for young offenders; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  on how many occasions restraints were used on young offenders in each of the last three years;
	(3)  how many injuries were recorded arising from the use of restraints on young offenders in each of the last three years.

David Hanson: Young offenders are those prisoners aged 18 to 21 years old who are referred to as young adults. The Prison Service uses control and restraint (C and R) techniques to restrain prisoners, including young adults, as a last resort in order to bring a violent or refractory prisoner under control and only when all other de-escalation techniques have failed. An independent review into the techniques used to restrain young people, below the age of 18, in custodial settings is currently under way and will report to Ministers in June this year.
	The information requested on number of restraints and injuries is not held centrally in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

TRANSPORT

Aircraft: Air Conditioning

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether  (a) the Civil Aviation Authority and  (b) her Department has commissioned research on the effect of oil leaks of engines on passengers and crew of Boeing 757s.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 1 April 2008
	The health and safety of passengers and crew is a priority for the Government, which is leading research into "fume events." This research is not exclusive to Boeing 757s.
	In 2007 the Department for Transport began a world first research project to try to capture and analyse substances released during transient fume events. The first stage of this work was to identify and test equipment capable of sampling any potentially harmful substances in cabin air. The report into this first stage work was published by Cranfield University on 21 February after peer review. It is published on the Department's website (www.dft.gov.uk). The next phase of work is to use the equipment identified to capture real-time fume events; this work is being developed.
	In addition, the Committee on Toxicity published their report into the cabin environment in September 2007. The report is available on the Committee's website:
	www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/cotnonfood/index.htm

Aircraft: Air Conditioning

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations she has received from the airline industry on illnesses caused by chemicals from oils and lubricants leaking into cabin air supplies.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 1 April 2008
	The British Air Transport Association (BATA) is an active member of the Aviation Health Working Group (AHWG), the stakeholder forum for aviation health. A number of airlines have volunteered to participate in the cabin air sampling study.

Aircraft: Air Conditioning

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations she has received from  (a) airline pilots,  (b) passengers and  (c) air crew on illnesses relating to cabin air contaminated by engine leakage.

Jim Fitzpatrick: We would not necessarily expect individual pilots or cabin crew to contact the Secretary of State as their main representative organisations, BALPA and the T and G, are members of the Aviation Health Working Group, the stakeholder forum for all aviation health issues. With regard to passengers, figures quoted by the Air Transport Users Council to the House of Lords inquiry into 'Air Travel and Health in 2007 noted that "out of a total of 20,000 written complaints since January 2001, 58 were categorised as medical". Of those 58 the main issues raised were pregnancy; injuries, typically from skiing; and allergies, typically from peanuts.

Biofuels: Imports

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much bio-fuel has been imported in the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government do not hold precise data on imports of biofuels used in the UK. We will have more accurate data once the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) comes into effect on 15 April. Under the RTFO, transport fuel suppliers who wish to earn renewable transport fuel certificates in respect of their biofuels will have to report to the Renewable Fuels Agency (RFA) on matters such as the country of origin of and the wider sustainability of those fuels. Further detail on the reporting requirements is available via the RFA's website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/rfa

Boats: Licensing

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration she has given to making arrangements under the new boatmasters' licences to give dispensations to boatmasters operating in Category C tidal estuary waters proportionate to the relative risks encountered in their operating waters.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government are considering an amendment to the Merchant Shipping (Inland Waterways and Coastal Operations) (Boatmasters' Qualifications and Hours of Work) Regulations 2006 which would introduce a new category of licence. This would allow masters to operate in a geographically limited area on tidal waters, without the comprehensive and rigorous qualification required by the existing Tier 1, Level 2 licence, subject to the agreement of the relevant navigation and port authorities.
	The safety of those who use the UK's waterways has always been the focus of the BML, and it is this concern for safety that led to the current situation of onerous qualification requirements. Any amendment to the BML regulations will follow extensive consultation to ensure that public safety will not be compromised.

Bus Services

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) bus and  (b) rail passenger journeys were made in each region in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The following extract from the Department's Public Transport Statistics Bulletin, a copy of which is in the House Library, shows the bus passenger journeys, in calendar years, since 1997-98.
	
		
			  Bus passenger journeys( 1)  by GO region: 1997-98 to 2006-07 
			  Million 
			  Region  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 North East 268 258 256 249 242 244 227 217 207 206 
			 North West 551 554 512 506 516 512 518 506 501 498 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 419 394 398 397 387 388 376 358 362 376 
			 East Midlands 215 218 215 216 212 212 211 200 201 210 
			 West Midlands 471 454 457 459 455 439 422 414 403 402 
			 East of England 167 169 176 183 178 173 169 167 164 183 
			 London 1,28 1,26 1,29 1,34 1,42 1,52 1,69 1,80 1,88 1,99 
			 South East 285 302 305 297 285 288 288 291 292 308 
			 South West 202 193 190 188 185 182 184 185 184 195 
			 England 3,85 3,80 3,80 3,84 3,88 3,96 4,08 4,14 4,19 4,37 
			 Wales(2) 122 118 117 119 108 115 116 118 118 119 
			 Scotland 448 424 455 458 466 471 478 479 477 482 
			 Great Britain 4,43 4,35 4,37 4,42 4,45 4,55 4,68 4,73 4,79 4,97 
			 (1) Each boarding of the vehicle is counted as one journey. (2 )Wales includes Great Orme trams.  Note: PTE data are from DfT's survey of operators. They might differ from PTE's own survey data.  Source: DfT survey of PSV operators 
		
	
	The Department for Transport does not hold information on the number of rail passenger journeys made in each region in each year since 1997. The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) does, however, publish regional rail passenger flows in the National Rail Trends Yearbook editions, which are available in the House Library or from their website:
	www.rail-reg.gov.uk

Bypasses: Construction

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many construction projects for trunk road bypasses have been authorised since May 2005.

Tom Harris: Five bypass schemes have been authorised since May 2005. These are:
	A69 Haydon Bridge Bypass on 26 September 2006;
	A38 Dobwalls Bypass on 24 August 2006;
	A595 Parton to Lillyhall Improvement on 25 July 2006;
	A3 Hindhead on 20 July 2006; and
	A419 Blunsdon Bypass on 8 March 2006.
	Details of these are published on the Department's website:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/network/strategic/programme/decisionletters/

Departmental Domestic Visits

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what visits she made to  (a) Harrogate International Centre,  (b) International Conference Centre, Birmingham,  (c) Manchester Central,  (d) Scottish Exhibitional and Conference Centre, Glasgow,  (e) Edinburgh International Conference Centre,  (f) Bournemouth International Conference Centre,  (g) the Brighton Centre, Brighton,  (h) the Riviera Centre, Torquay,  (i) Queen Elizabeth Centre, London,  (j) Excel Conference Centre, Docklands, London, and  (k) Business Design Centre, Islington, London, in the period 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2007; and what events she attended at each.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Secretary of State for Transport has visited the following conference centres in the period 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2007. These visits relate to official engagements only.
	 Excel Conference Centre, Docklands, London
	21 March 2006—Interspill conference
	8 October 2006—Intelligent Transport Systems World congress
	 Business Design Centre, Islington, London
	28 November 2005—Confederation of Business Industry conference
	 Queen Elizabeth Centre, London
	9 March 2005—National Rail conference
	15 March 2006—National Rail conference
	17 July 2006—Ford conference
	14 March 2007—National Rail conference
	17 April 2007—British Chambers of Commerce Annual Transport/Roads conference

Departmental Internet

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Wikipedia entries have been  (a) created and  (b) amended (i) by (A) special advisers, (B) Ministers and (C) communications officials and (ii) from IP addresses of (1) special advisers, (2) Ministers and (3) communications officials in (x) her Department and (y) its agencies since August 2005.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Current Ministers and special advisers have not created or amended any Wikipedia entries from IP addresses of special advisers or Ministers.
	Departmental officials have created or amended factual entries that explain the role of the Department and the Executive Agencies. This has been done in accordance with the civil service code which states that civil servants should use resources only for the authorised public purposes for which they are provided and that civil servants should make sure public money and other resources are used properly and efficiently.
	These links can be viewed at:
	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_for_Transport
	http://en.wikipddia.org/wiki/Highways_Agency
	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving_Standards_Agency
	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driver_and_Vehicle_Licensing_Agency
	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_and_Operator_Services_Agency
	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maritime_and_Coastguard_Agency
	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_Certification_Agency

Heathrow Airport: Environment Protection

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will commission an independent scientific report into the likely environmental impact of a third runway at Heathrow.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 31 March 2008
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for Oldham, West and Royton (Mr. Meacher) on 20 March 2008,  Official Report, column 1385W.

Lorries: Accidents

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will make it a requirement that left hand driven lorries operating in the UK be fitted with additional wing mirrors to improve safety of overtaking and visibility of cycles on the nearside; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: All new lorries, whether UK registered or visiting from another member state have, since 26 January 2007 been fitted with enhanced rear view mirrors that improve driver vision.
	A European directive has recently been adopted which requires similar mirrors to be fitted to existing lorries, first registered from 1 January 2000. We will implement these requirements through our national legislation.

Members: Correspondence

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Totnes of 21 February 2008 about the boatmasters' licences in relation to South Sands Ferry.

Jim Fitzpatrick: A response has been sent.

Motorcycles: Exhaust Emissions

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information her Department holds on carbon dioxide emissions from motorcycles, broken down by  (a) engine size and  (b) manufacturer.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport does not, at present, hold information on the carbon dioxide emissions of motorcycles broken down in this way. There is currently no statutory requirement placed upon manufacturers to measure the carbon dioxide emissions of new models of motorcycle when they are approved. However, a legislative proposal from the European Commission mandating this measurement has been awaited for some time and is currently expected to be published early in 2009.
	A limited amount of data categorised against engine size have been gathered, in the past, in research projects conducted by the Department and the European Commission's Joint Research Centre. The results of these are available on the Department's website and within the Passenger Transport Emissions Factors on DEFRA's website:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/environment/research/cqvcf/
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/business/envrp/pdf/passenger-transport.pdf

Public Transport: Finance

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding was provided to  (a) regions and  (b) local authorities to provide local public transport in each of the last five years; and how much has been allocated for (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10 and (iii) 2010-11.

Rosie Winterton: The information is as follows:
	 (a) Regions advise central Government about priorities for major local authority schemes (including for local public transport) and certain Highways Agency projects. The total budgets for 2008-09 to 2010-11 for these types of project the regions work to are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Planning assumptions for Transport 
			  £ million 
			  Region  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			 North West 119 121 123 
			 North East 44 45 45 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 88 90 92 
			 East Midlands 76 77 79 
			 West Midlands 93 95 97 
			 South West 90 92 94 
			 South East 144 147 150 
			 East 98 100 103 
		
	
	 (b) The local public transport elements of this funding are provided for local authorities. Detailed information on the funding allocated to local authorities in local transport capital settlements between 1997-08 and 2005-06 (inclusive) was deposited in the Libraries of the House on 18 January 2006. I also refer the hon. Member to my answer of 20 March,  Official Report, column 1392W, where information about the funding in 2006-07 and 2007-08 was placed in the Libraries of the House.
	Most Government funding support for local authorities for local public transport services is provided within the revenue support grant, administered by the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG). The revenue support grant is not service-specific and it is for local authorities to decide on its use. Transport for London receives a block grant for transport and has the discretion to decide on its use across different modes of transport.
	In addition the Department, has provided local authorities in rural areas with a specific rural bus subsidy grant and also provides specific grants to assist local authorities with bus projects. From 2008-09 the funding for the rural bus subsidy grant is being pooled in a broad area based grant, administered by CLG.
	The Department also provides support for investment in integrated transport improvements as part of the local transport capital settlements. It is for local authorities to determine how much of this funding to allocate to projects related to local public transport, in the light of their local policies and priorities.
	Information about the distribution of the specific grants for bus services and the support for local transport investment in 2006-07, 2007-08 and for 2008-09 was also placed in the Libraries of the House on 20 March.
	I am placing information about the distribution of the specific bus grants for 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06 in the Libraries of the House. Information about the distribution of local transport capital funding, including for integrated transport, was placed in the Libraries of the House on 18 January 2006.
	Indicative allocations of rural bus subsidy funding for 2009-10 and 2010-11 have been published at:
	http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/0809/specgrants/dft.xls
	The local transport capital settlements for 2009-10 and 2010-11 have been published at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pqr/regional/ltp/capital/ltpsettle07/
	Some funding support for rail services has also been provided via passenger transport authorities, although these authorities do not, in most cases, provide or procure the services themselves.

Public Transport: Tickets

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to promote the integration of rail and bus ticketing systems.

Tom Harris: There is already integration of bus and rail ticketing with multi-modal Travelcard-style tickets products in the large urban areas and Plus Bus serving most major towns and stations in the rest of the country.

Railway Stations: Construction

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new railway stations were built with public funding in  (a) South Tyneside,  (b) Tyne and Wear,  (c) the North East and  (d) the UK in each year since 1997.

Tom Harris: There have been no new railway stations opened in South Tyneside, Tyne and Wear or the North East since 1997.
	20 stations have been opened in England since 1997 with some public funding. These are listed as follows.
	New stations that have been opened in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland with public funding are a matter for the devolved Administrations.
	
		
			  Station  Opened 
			 Euxton Balshaw Lane 15 December 1997 
			 Brunswick 9 March 1998 
			 Whitwell 24 May 1998 
			 Creswell 24 May 1998 
			 Langwith—Whaley Thorns 24 May 1998 
			 Shirebrook 24 May 1998 
			 Conway Park 22 June 1998 
			 Canning Town 14 May 1999 
			 West Brompton 30 May 1999 
			 West Ham 30 May 1999 
			 Horwich Parkway 30 May 1999 
			 Luton Airport Parkway 21 November 1999 
			 Brighouse 29 May 2000 
			 Wavertree Technology Park 13 August 2000 
			 Lea Green 17 September 2000 
			 Braintree Freeport 10 December 2003 
			 Glasshoughton 12 December 2004 
			 Chandlers Ford 12 December 2004 
			 Liverpool South Parkway 11 June 2006 
			 St Pancras International 14 November 2007

Railways: Yorkshire and the Humber

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many train journeys originating in Yorkshire and the Humber in the last 12 months have been made in trains with no more than one carriage; what percentage of the total number of rail journeys in the region this represents; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: The three franchised train operators running services that originate in Yorkshire and the Humber are Northern Rail, TransPennine Express and National Express East Coast. An estimate of the number of journeys made on different types of rolling stock would be a matter for the operators involved.
	Northern Rail is the only train operator that runs a one carriage service in Yorkshire and the Humber.

Road Traffic

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the level of congestion on trunk roads and motorways on the afternoon of 8 February 2008; what figures she collates on such matters, including the cost to the economy; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: Fully validated congestion data for 8 February 2008 will be available in May 2008. This is due to the time it takes to collect, validate and produce these figures.
	Once produced, journey time and delay figures are available nationally, at individual route level, by day and by time of day.
	Figures on the cost of congestion to the economy are not routinely calculated, although assessments of this have been made, most recently in the Eddington Study, published in 2006.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations her Department has received on the prioritisation of  (a) the A1 Elkesley flyover and  (b) improvements to the A57 in major capital road schemes in each of the last 10 years.

Tom Harris: The information is as follows:
	 (a) Representations on the prioritisation of the A1 Elkesley Junctions Improvement (locally known as Elkesley Bridge) were received from:
	
		
			  Correspondence  Date 
			 PLaN Parkman, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire 12 March 1999 
			   
			 Elkesley Parish Council 1 July 2003 
			 Elkesley Parish Council 7 October 2003 
			 Patrick Mercer MP 10 December 2003 
			   
			 Dr. David Pell 23 January 2004 
			 Elkesley Parish Council 1 June 2004 
			 House of Commons re: Elkesley Parish Council 16 August 2004 
			 Elkesley Parish Council 16 September 2004 
			 Elkesley Parish Council 5 October 2004 
			   
			 Elkesley Parish Council 4 January 2005 
			 Dr. David Pell 26 January 2005 
			 Elkesley Parish Council 1 February 2005 
			 Patrick Mercer MP 14 February 2005 
			 Dr. David Pell 23 March 2005 
			 Nottinghamshire county council 25 August 2005 
			   
			 Residents/Users of Coal Pit Lane 18 September 2005 
			 Elkesley Parish Council 7 November 2005 
			   
			 Elkesley Parish Council 27 July 2006 
			 Mr. Simpson on behalf of Elkesley Villagers 20 October 2006 
			   
			 Dr. David Pell 23 June 2007 
			 Dr. David Pell 2 August 2007 
			   
			 Dr. David Pell 28 February 2008 
		
	
	 (b) Representations received on the prioritisation of improvements to the A57 in major capital road schemes:
	The Highways Agency detrunked the A57 in 2002 and 2003. Prior to detrunking, representations had been received from Rotherham metropolitan borough council (RMBC), local groups and Parish Councils for improvement of the A57 from Todwick crossroads west to the M1. Dunham Parish Council was also keen to see the village bypassed. Subsequent to detrunking, information about any improvement schemes on the A57 should be requested from the relevant local highway authority.

Transport: Capital Investment

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much capital funding from the public purse was provided to transport infrastructure in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) Tyne and Wear,  (d) the North East and  (e) the UK in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The following table contains the transport capital expenditure identified by the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses as having been made in the North East region and the United Kingdom in each year from 2001-02 onwards. Figures for 1997 are not available and the figures that were produced for 1998-99, 1999 to 2000 and 2000-01 are not comparable with the later figures.
	This information is not available for Tyne and Wear, South Tyneside or Jarrow constituency.
	
		
			  Table 1: Transport  c apital  e xpenditure 
			  £  million 
			   Expenditure North East  R egion  Expenditure United Kingdom 
			 2001-02 188 4,594 
			 2002-03 225 5,771 
			 2003-04 260 7,657 
			 2004-05 267 8,192 
			 2005-06 272 8,543 
			 2006-07 293 9,693 
		
	
	The Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses, including the definitions and assumptions used in them and the figures for 1998-99 to 2000-01, can be viewed at the HM Treasury website:
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk

Woodhead Tunnel and Cross-Pennine Rail Link

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the feasibility of maintaining Woodhead tunnel fit for future rail operations should the National Grid lay electricity cables along it;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the most viable option for a new cross-Pennine rail link. [Official Report, 21 April 2008, Vol. 474, c. 8MC.]

Rosie Winterton: The need for additional passenger capacity can best be met through the provision of longer carriages and faster journey times on the Manchester to Leeds via Huddersfield route.
	Should additional capacity be required across the Pennines at some future date, capacity enhancements on the three existing Victorian tunnels on the Woodhead route would be considered first. This is because they are more likely to offer value for money than the re-opening of a fourth route.
	I shall be meeting with National Grid to confirm that we would wish to explore the option of continued inspection and maintenance of the Woodhead tunnels once National Grid have vacated them.
	I intend to meet key stakeholders for their views on transport challenges across the Pennines and how this might tie in with the development of a longer term strategy.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects to reply to Question 185523 tabled on 4 February 2008 by the hon. Member for Eddisbury on Wikipedia.

Jim Fitzpatrick: A reply was given to the hon. Member today.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Post Office

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent assessment he has made of progress on the Post Office network change programme; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: To date, 26 out of the network change programme's 47 area plans have gone out to public consultation and final decisions announced for 15 of them. The programme is scheduled to be complete by the end of the year.

Post Office

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent discussions he has had with the management of Post Office Ltd about the provision of Government services by post offices.

Patrick McFadden: I regularly meet and discuss a range of issues relating to the post office network with the Managing Director of Post Office Ltd. These include its contracts to provide Government services.

Post Office

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will make a statement on recent progress made by the Post Office network change programme.

Patrick McFadden: To date, 26 out of the network change programme's 47 area plans have gone out to public consultation and final decisions announced for 15 of them. The programme is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

Renewable Energy

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the effect of Article 5(2) of the proposed European directive on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources on the Government's consideration of the options for renewable energy in the Severn estuary.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government's initial view is that this draft article is helpful for the UK as it gives partial credit to very large renewable projects with very long lead times and significant risks. It is not a reason for favouring one Severn estuary scheme over another. The Government intend to consider all potential technology and location options on a comparable basis.

Alcohol

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent discussions he has had on the possibility of making an order under the Competition Act 1998 to allow minimum pricing of alcohol for exceptional and compelling reasons of public policy.

Patrick McFadden: The Government are looking carefully at ways to reduce alcohol related harm. In this context, Ministers have been discussing a number of potential policy options, including the possibility of action relating to alcohol pricing. Making an exclusion order under the Competition Act remains one of the possible available measures for consideration.

Sub-Post Offices

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will make a statement on the future of sub-post offices.

Patrick McFadden: The Government are committed to a national network of post offices, has set access criteria to ensure reasonable access to post office services for all communities and is providing a network subsidy payment of up to £150 million a year to support the non-commercial part of the network. Under the access criteria, Post Office Ltd is required to ensure that nationally 99 per cent. of the UK population is within 3 miles of their nearest post office outlet and 90 per cent. within one mile.

Energy Prices

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the effect of recent rises in the cost of energy for  (a) domestic and  (b) business consumers.

Malcolm Wicks: Recent increases in retail energy prices, while unwelcome, have been largely due to steadily rising producer prices for oil, coal and gas. The UK is not alone in experiencing these price rises, and the UK's competitive markets have ensured that prices are no higher than necessary. As of 1 January this year, UK energy prices for average domestic customers were significantly lower than in most EU15 states and prices for average industrial customers were around the EU15 median(1).
	(1) Quarterly Energy Prices, March 2008, BERR.

Energy Prices

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent discussions he has had with domestic energy supply companies on their pricing arrangements.

Malcolm Wicks: Although Ministers have not met companies to discuss pricing arrangements, we have met with them to discuss how to take forward the announcement in the Budget on increasing the level of assistance energy companies provide to vulnerable households.

Post Office Closures

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent assessment he has made of the impact of post office closures on local services.

Patrick McFadden: Post Office Ltd., in developing its post office closure proposals, continues to consider a range of factors, including the impact of closures on local economies. For example, under the Northern and Western Isles area plan proposals, currently subject to local public consultation, there will be no change to the office currently used by 83 per cent. of customers and in total 97 per cent. will see no change or be within one mile by road of an alternative branch.

Lending Practices

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps he is taking to prevent unscrupulous lending practices.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government are committed to tackling unscrupulous loan sharks who exploit vulnerable people in our poorest communities. In 2004, we established two pilot enforcement teams in Birmingham and Glasgow to track down and prosecute illegal moneylenders.
	Following evaluation of the pilots, BERR announced £2.8 million in September for a national crack down on illegal lending. There's now a team in every region of Britain and we have committed to fund this work through the next spending period.
	In addition, the Consumer Credit Act 2006, which represents the biggest overhaul of consumer credit legislation since 1974, has boosted consumer rights and redress by introducing a new unfair relationships test and alternative dispute resolution scheme. From 6 April this year, it strengthens the licensing regime for consumer credit businesses to enable more effective action against rogue traders and unacceptable practices.

Power Stations

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what his policy is on development of new coal-fired power stations.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government's approach is to provide a regulatory framework which incentivises generating companies to deliver secure energy supplies, within an overall cap on carbon emissions under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. Within this framework, decisions on the nature and timing of investment in new generating capacity are a matter for generating companies.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the number of work days lost to UK industries each year through  (a) alcohol and  (b) drug misuse by employees.

Anne McGuire: I have been asked to reply.
	The information is not available in the form requested. However, on alcohol misuse, research published by the Cabinet Office in 2003 estimated that between 11 million and 17 million working days were lost each year due to such misuse ("Alcohol Misuse—How much does it cost?"—Rannia Leontaridi, Cabinet Office, 2003—www.number10.gov.uk/files/pdf/econ.pdf.

Business: Regulation

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps he is taking to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses and the voluntary sector.

Patrick McFadden: Government undertook an exercise, supported by industry, to measure the administrative burdens that impact businesses, charities and voluntary organizations and third of all sizes as a result of complying with regulations. Upon the completion of this exercise, 25 per cent. net targets by 2010 were set to reduce this burden.
	In December 2007, 19 Simplification Plans were published, showing more than 700 measures to reduce the burdens of complying with regulations. Over 280 of these measures have already been delivered saving businesses £800 million per year.

Consumer Goods: Health Hazards

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps he plans to take to ensure that UK consumers can identify products containing free nanoparticles.

Ian Pearson: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government's aim is for the UK to derive maximum benefit from nanotechnologies and their products in a way that safeguards health, safety and the environment and addresses the aspirations and concerns of the public. The statement by the UK Government about nanotechnologies, announced in the written ministerial statement of 28 February 2008,  Official Report, columns 86-87W, explains what the Government are doing to deliver these objectives.
	The Government do not hold a list of products containing free nanoparticles although it has published a report on the manufacture and use of nanomaterials in the UK at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/nanotech/research/reports/index.htm#manufacture
	To promote a standardised approach to labelling and ensure that products containing manufactured nanoparticles can be correctly identified, the British Standards Institute has recently published a good practice guidance document PAS 130:2007 "Guidance on the labelling of manufactured nanoparticles and products containing manufactured nanoparticles".
	The Research Councils are undertaking public dialogue on nanotechnologies and the topic is likely to feature in work resulting from the recent programme of stakeholder engagement to identify the implications of new and emerging science and technology.
	Government Departments and agencies are keeping under review the need for action to address regulatory gaps in the light of emerging evidence. The ministerial group on nanotechnologies (which comprises the Ministers for Science and Innovation; the Environment; Public Health; Health and Safety; and Business and Competitiveness) will oversee the process and will also review progress on delivery of the Government's other commitments regarding nanotechnologies.

Minimum Wage: Females

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the number of women who are likely to be affected by the increase in the national minimum wage in October 2008.

Patrick McFadden: Of the just under a million employees BERR estimates stand to benefit from the October 2008 uprating of the national minimum wage in the UK, around two thirds are women.

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the effect on costs has been of applying practices from Nuclear Decommissioning Authority sites to the discharge of British Energy's liabilities.

Malcolm Wicks: British Energy (BE) have so far not initiated any decommissioning work as their power stations are not due to close for several years, following the announcement of life extensions to Dungeness B, Hunterston B and Hinkley Point B.
	The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's (NDA) oversight of BE's liabilities has therefore focused on their production of lifetime decommissioning plans and near term work plans. BE submitted one set of plans in 2006 and submitted their second edition on 31 March this year. The NDA has applied both the processes used in the development of Site Licence Companies' lifetime plans, and lessons learned from its review of these plans to the BE equivalents.
	The NDA is also working to develop a UK-wide strategy for management of intermediate level waste and this involves both BE as well as other Site Licence Companies.

Rackspace

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the value was of each contract awarded to Rackspace by  (a) his Department and its predecessor and  (b) its agencies in each of the last nine years.

Gareth Thomas: Central records indicate that no contracts have been awarded by the Department and its predecessor to Rackspace in any of the last nine years.
	I have asked chief executives of the Executive Agencies to respond directly to the hon. Member.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many instances there were of equipment of the armed forces being lost in transit either  (a) en route to and  (b) in (i) Afghanistan and (ii) Iraq in each year since 2003.

Bob Ainsworth: Other than those attributed to theft, there are no reported instance of equipment of the armed forces being lost in transit between the UK and either Iraq or Afghanistan. In terms of theft, I have nothing to add to the answer I gave on 8 October 2007,  Official Report, column 62W.

Ammunition

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cluster munitions have been deployed in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan; how many were deployed (i) during active hostilities and (ii) since such times; and what estimate he has made of the number of people (1) killed and (2) seriously injured by cluster munitions in each such period and country, broken down by (A) UK, (B) other coalition and (C) insurgent forces; and how many civilian casualties there have been.

Des Browne: The UK employed 68 RBL755 and 2,100 M85 cluster munitions during the initial combat phase of operations in Iraq in 2003. The UK has not employed cluster munitions in Iraq since then, nor have we employed cluster munitions in Afghanistan.
	One UK fatality in Iraq, which occurred in March 2003, can be attributed to non-UK cluster munitions. Further casualty and fatality information requested for other coalition forces, insurgents and civilians is not held by the MOD. We also do not hold the information for UK armed forces personnel casualties.

Armed Forces: Females

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many female members of the army who are considered combat effective use hormonal applications.

Bob Ainsworth: The information is not held in the format requested.

Armed Forces: Influenza

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what proportion of the stockpile of A/H5N1 vaccine for use in the event of an influenza pandemic has been allocated for vaccination of  (a) healthcare workers and  (b) the armed forces; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  for what reason his Department bid for a stockpile size of 54,000 courses of A/H5N1 vaccine, as referred to in paragraph 8 of the Defence Medical Services Department's policy letter of 20 January 2006, entitled "The use of influenza vaccines and anti-virals in the event of an influenza pandemic" by the Defence Medical Services, reference DMSD/13/1/4; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The Department's stockpile was calculated on the need to have sufficient courses to vaccinate those personnel engaged on, or preparing for, deployed operations and other essential tasks, plus a specific allocation for Defence Medical Services (DMS) healthcare personnel. Around 10 per cent. has been allocated for vaccination of DMS personnel, and the remaining 90 per cent. for other members of the armed forces.

Armed Forces: Influenza

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 7 January 2008,  Official Report, column 24W, what quantity of anti-virals is held at Permanent Joint Headquarters; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: Around 17,500 courses of influenza anti-virals earmarked for future operational demands are held by the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency (DSDA) on behalf of the Defence Equipment and Support. PJHQ will authorise distribution of the appropriate quantities to operational theatres as required.

Armed Forces: Influenza

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has had with NATO in the last 12 months on the creation of a joint stockpile of  (a) pharmaceutical and  (b) other clinical countermeasures to support the continuity of operations in Afghanistan in the event of an influenza pandemic; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 18 December 2007,  Official Report, columns 1447-48W.

Armed Forces: Influenza

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many treatment courses of anti-virals are held at  (a) role 2 and  (b) role 3 medical units, as stated in paragraph 14 of the Defence Medical Services Department's policy letter of 20 January 2006, entitled The use of influenza vaccines and anti-virals in the event of an influenza pandemic by the Defence Medical Services, reference DMSD/13/1/4; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: In accordance with Defence Medical Services guidance, 10 anti-viral courses are held in Role 2(Enhanced) field hospitals overseas; five courses in the unit at Basra in Iraq and five in the one at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan. The majority of MOD's anti-viral stocks are held by the Defence Equipment and Support in the UK, from whence they can be transported at short notice to any overseas location as required.

Armed Forces: Influenza

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many courses of anti-virals are now pre-positioned in Permanent joint overseas bases, as stated in paragraph 14 of the Defence Medical Services Department's policy letter of 20 January 2006, entitled The use of influenza vaccines and anti-virals in the event of an influenza pandemic by the Defence Medical Services, reference DMSD/13/1/4; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: Around 15,850 Tamiflu anti-viral courses were distributed to MOD overseas bases by the end of January 2006. In addition, just over 1,900 paediatric Tamiflu courses were subsequently distributed to be given to younger children.

Armed Forces: Transexuality

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many transgender sergeants in the process of transition serving in the Army in Germany are  (a) receiving medication for their condition in country and  (b) have been deployed on exercise in Poland.

Bob Ainsworth: I am unable to provide this information as its release would breach the provisions of the Data Protection Act, specifically in regard to medical-in-confidence issues.

Armed Forces: Transexuality

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  whether the downgrading of a transgender officer to P7, (combat ineffective), can be determined solely on grounds of hormonal reasons;
	(2)  whether it is a requirement of army regulations that when an officer is downgraded to P7 (combat ineffective) they should be personally interviewed before a downgrading decision is reached.

Bob Ainsworth: Downgrading decisions are made by medical boards on a case by case basis taking into account all documentary evidence provided by medical staffs. As part of this process, it is normal practice for the individual to appear before the medical board unless they are either unable or decline to attend.

Atomic Weapons Establishment: Manpower

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff were employed at Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston in each of the last five years.

Bob Ainsworth: The Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) plc is split into two sites, Aldermaston and Burghfield. The number of full-time equivalent staff employed at both sites in each of the last five years is shown in the following table. The figures are taken as at the end March in each year and are rounded to the nearest 10. Approximately 92 per cent. of these work at the Aldermaston site.
	
		
			   Manpower level 
			 2004 3,510 
			 2005 3,640 
			 2006 4,040 
			 2007 4,390 
			 2008 (as at end February 2008) 4,620 
		
	
	In addition, some 2,000 staff are employed by contractors at the AWE sites.

Contingencies Fund

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 12 March 2008,  Official Report, column 18WS, on the Contingencies Fund, what the unforeseen pension pressures in 2007-08 are.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 26 March 2007
	The 2007-08 spring supplementary estimate for the armed forces pension scheme sought an increase in the net cash requirement of £150 million for the 2007-08 financial year due in the main to higher levels of terminal pension payments (lump sums and early departure) than had been anticipated at the time of production of the main estimate.
	I also refer the hon. Member to the answer given in another place by my right hon. Friend, the Minister for Defence Equipment and Support on 31 March 2008,  Official Report, House of Lords, column WA128.

Defence Equipment: Finance

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will put in place mechanisms by which Defence Equipment and Support will be required to report on its annual expenditure and activities to the House.

Bob Ainsworth: We will report on the activities, expenditure and performance of DE&S in the Ministry of Defence Annual Report and Accounts.

Departmental Conflict of Interests

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) departmental officials and  (b) officers of the armed services notified his Department that they intended to work for (i) British Aerospace, (ii) British Airways, (iii) BP, (iv) Shell, (v) Rolls Royce, (vi) HSBC, (vii) Standard Chartered, (viii) RBS, (ix) HBOS, (x) Barclays and (xi) another company on leaving their post in each of the last five years.

Derek Twigg: Applications to take up appointments with the named companies received in each of the years in question are set out in the table. Further information relating to other companies could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The figures provided relate specifically to those personnel who are required to notify the MOD of their intention to work for a specific company in accordance with departmental policy (The Business Appointment Rules).
	
		
			   Category  BAe  BA  BP  Shell  Rolls Royce  HSBC  Standard Chartered  RBS  HBOS  Barclays 
			 2003 Service 10 — — — <5 — — — — — 
			 2003 Civilian <5 — — — — — — — — — 
			 2004 Service 5 — — <5 <5 — — — — — 
			 2004 Civilian <5 — — — <5 — — — — — 
			 2005 Service 10 — — —  — — — — — 
			 2005 Civilian 5 — — — <5 — — — — — 
			 2006 Service 15 — — — <5 — — — — — 
			 2006 Civilian 10 — — — <5 — — — — — 
			 2007 Service 15 — — <5 5 — — — — — 
			 2007 Civilian 10 — — — <5 — — — — — 
		
	
	In each of the last five years the Department received no formal notifications of intention to join any of the following companies; British Airways, BP, HSBC, Standard Chartered, RBS, HBOS or Barclays. All figures have been rounded to the nearest five to prevent unintended disclosure of personal information.

Diego Garcia: Deployment

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by rank those members of the armed forces serving in Diego Garcia.

Bob Ainsworth: There are 42 UK military personnel based on Diego Garcia, broken down by rank as follows:
	
		
			  Rank  Number of personnel 
			 Commander Royal Navy 1 
			 Major Royal Marines 1 
			 Lieutenant Royal Navy 1 
			 Warrant Officer (2) Royal Marines 1 
			 Master at Arms 1 
			 Chief Marine Engineering Mechanic 1 
			 Regulating Petty Officers 3 
			 Sergeant Royal Marines 1 
			 Sergeants (Army) 2 
			 Leading Regulators 2 
			 Leading Seaman 1 
			 Leading Logistician 1 
			 Leading Marine Engineering Mechanic 1 
			 Leading Engineering Technician (Mechanical) 1 
			 Leading Medical Assistants 2 
			 Leading Logistician Catering Services 2 
			 Corporal Royal Marines 5 
			 Corporal Royal Military Police 1 
			 Corporal Royal Air Force Police 1 
			 Lance Corporal Royal Marines 4 
			 Marines 9

Drinking Water

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Answer of 28 February 2008,  Official Report, column 2710W, on drinking water, how much his Department spent on provision of bottled water to his Department's main building in the latest year for which figures are available.

Derek Twigg: As part of our commitment to the Sustainable Development agenda, since 1 October 2007, the PFI Contract for Main Building no longer supplies bottle water to the predominance of meetings, however bottled water may still be purchased for large conferences and private functions.
	The following table outlines the consumption and highlights a reduction of 90 per cent. in the consumption of bottled water since the change in policy.
	
		
			   Number of bottles  £ (approx.) 
			 1 March 2007 to 30 September 2007 7,479 11,000 
			 1 October 2007 to 29 February 2008 514 1,000 
			 Total 7,993 12,000

Iraq: Security

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in al-Basra Province.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the development of the  (a) security,  (b) political and  (c) economic situation in Basra province since December 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: I refer the hon. Members to the update I provided to the House on the security situation in Basra in my Statement on 1 April 2008,  Official Report, columns 628-43. We continue to keep the security situation in Basra under close review following the transfer of Basra to Provincial Iraqi Control in December 2007 and in the light of recent developments. We and our coalition partners continue to provide support to the Iraqis in our overwatch role in accordance with our rules of engagement.
	There has been encouraging political progress in Basra since December. For example, the supporting the Law Council, which represents all of Basra's political leaders, signed an agreement in December 2007 committing them to support the rule of law and recognise the ISF as the sole guardians of security in Basra. This demonstrated a willingness on the part of all of Basra's political parties to work together in a spirit of compromise and reconciliation. This commitment has been tested during recent events, but it is striking that Muqtada al-Sadr, in his statement of 30 March 2008, reaffirmed the importance of cooperation with the Government and the need to respect the rule of law.
	The UK is also working with coalition partners and the Government of Iraq to promote private sector-led economic growth in Basra. Since December we have helped to launch a Basra Development Commission, which is bringing together Iraqi, regional and international business leaders to provide advice and guidance to the Provincial Council and promoting Basra as an investment location through a recent major investment conference in Kuwait. We are leading on an initiative to help set up the Basra Development Fund, to provide finance to small and medium sized enterprises, and to make progress on key projects such as the redevelopment of Basra International Airport and Umm Qasr port.

Military Aircraft

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) target and  (b) actual percentage serviceability rate is of each (i) helicopter and (ii) air transport aircraft in the Armed Forces.

Bob Ainsworth: The target and actual serviceability rates shown in the following table are the average for the month of February 2008:
	
		
			  Aircraft  Target percentage serviceability rate  Actual percentage serviceability rate 
			 Hercules C130K 75 72 
			 Hercules C130J 80 78 
			 VC10 70 54 
			 Tristar 75 77 
			 C17 88 91 
			 Apache 62 49 
			 A109A 66 79 
			 Gazelle (5 Regiment) 75 76 
			 Gazelle (Other) 70 79 
			 Chinook 70 67 
			 Puma 70 63 
			 Merlin Mk1 70 41 
			 Merlin Mk3 70 50 
			 Sea King Mk3 74 72 
			 Sea King Mk4/6 65 45 
			 Sea King Mk5/7 65 63 
			 Lynx Mk3/8 66 60 
			 Lynx Mk7/9 63 55 
		
	
	These figures do not include aircraft in the depth fleets or the eight RAF Chinook Mark 3 helicopters that are being converted to a battlefield support role. Two of the six ex-Danish Merlin helicopters have now entered squadron service and are included in the above figures.
	The figures do not reflect the fact that unserviceable aircraft can often, if required, be made serviceable at very short notice to meet the operational need.

Royal Irish Regiment: Manpower

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the ratio of female to male soldiers was in the Home Service  (a) part-time and  (b) full-time Royal Irish Regiment on 1 July 2000.

Bob Ainsworth: A breakdown of the number of male and female soldiers in the Home Service element of the Royal Irish Regiment (HS R IRISH) is not available for 1 July 2000.
	However, figures are held as at 1 January 2000 which show that the ratio of female to male within the part-time element of the HS R IRISH was approximately 1:9. The female to male ratio within the full-time element of the HS R IRISH was approximately 1:10.

Sea King Helicopters

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  which marks of Sea King helicopters have been fitted with high intensity strobe lights; and when this equipment was installed;
	(2)  when high intensity strobe lighting was  (a) removed and  (b) refitted to the second Sea King marks trials aircraft; and under whose authority this action was taken;
	(3)  whether the retro fitting of his Department's Sea King helicopters with high intensity strobe lighting was approved at all stages of planning and installation by the helicopters' manufacturers.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 26 March 2008
	High Intensity Strobe Lighting (HISL) was progressively fitted to all Marks of the UK MOD Sea King fleet between 1983 and 2001:
	Mark 3—Rear Light introduced in 1983; Forward Light introduced in 1985.
	Mark 3a—1996 (fitted when the aircraft was introduced to service).
	Mark 2—1997 (all Mark 2 aircraft have subsequently been converted to the Mark 7 standard).
	Mark 4—2001
	Mark 5—1998
	Mark 6—1998
	Mark 7—2000
	The Mark 2 to Mark 7 conversion programme that was undertaken between 1999 and 2002 was conducted in two phases, giving rise to two different build-standards of trials aircraft. The trial installation of HISL was undertaken during the first phase before the equipment was transferred to the second phase trials aircraft and re-tested, prior to release to service. This approach was agreed jointly between the MOD and the helicopter Design Organisation (Westland Helicopters, now AgustaWestland).
	The retro-fitting capability was introduced as a Service Modification—either a Service Engineering Modification (SEM) or Naval Service Modification (NSM)—where design, test and installation is undertaken by MOD personnel. In all cases, the Department is required to seek independent airworthiness advice before the modification is released to service. Additionally, MOD personnel are required to seek advice from the helicopter Design Organisation, as was the case for all Marks of HISL modification. For all Marks except Mark 5 and Mark 6 aircraft, the HISL modification has retrospectively been formally accepted onto the aircraft drawings by the helicopter manufacturer through a process called Cover Modification.

Uniforms

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what orders for bearskin caps for the Guards Regiments are  (a) outstanding and  (b) planned.

Bob Ainsworth: There are no outstanding orders for the procurement of bearskin caps. Future requirements are kept under review.

Uniforms

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are being taken by his Department to identify an alternative material to bearskin for Guards Regiments caps.

Bob Ainsworth: The MOD has been actively seeking an acceptable alternative to real fur for some years and continues to invest in samples and treatments of imitation bearskin. Although successful in identifying fur alternatives for other aspects of ceremonial dress, replicating the complex structure of bear's fur has proven to be a significant challenge and no suitable fur alternative to the Guards bearskin cap has yet been identified. A number of trials have taken place but unfortunately proved unsuccessful. Further trials will take place once suitable products have been identified.

Wind Power

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to object for operational flying reasons to the proposed erection of six wind turbines at Guestwick in Norfolk.

Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) raised objections to the planning application for the erection of wind turbines at Guestwick in January 2005, given the anticipated effect of the turbines on the operation of air traffic radars at RAF Coltishall and RAF Marham. Our concerns were considered in conjunction with the applicant and Broadland district council. It was agreed that our main concerns would be addressed if the development of the turbines was deferred until flying operations had ceased at RAF Coltishall.
	In fact, the local planning authority refused planning consent in March 2005. Since then we have not been consulted further on this proposal. However, should the development referred to be brought forward we would need to review our position using current assessment process.
	MOD fully supports the Government's policy on renewable energy. We operate a free planning consultation service for wind farm developers and consider every proposal on a case-by-case basis.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan: Drugs

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much the UK has spent on the Afghan Drug Programme in each year since 2003; what drug programmes his Department has funded in Afghanistan since 2003; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: In 2004-05 the UK spent £6.1 million on a counter narcotics programme in Afghanistan. In 2005 the Afghan Drugs Inter-Departmental Unit was created to manage the UK's increased counter narcotics effort in Afghanistan. Since that time, the Government have developed a single, integrated counter narcotics programme for Afghanistan and spent the following sums:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2005-06 46.8 
			 2006-07 46.8 
			 2007-08 43.8 
		
	
	UK spend has been directed towards supporting the Afghan National Drugs Control Strategy, which has eight pillars of activity: (1) raising public awareness, (2) promoting international and regional co-operation, (3) promoting alternative livelihoods, (4) reducing demand for drugs, (5) law enforcement, (6) establishing an effective criminal justice system, (7) targeted eradication of opium and (8) building effective Afghan government institutions.

Afghanistan: Drugs

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much the Government spent on programmes to reduce opium production in Afghanistan in each year since 2001.

David Miliband: Before 2004, the UK did not have a dedicated counter narcotics programme in Afghanistan. In 2004-05, the UK spent £6.1 million on counter narcotics work in Afghanistan.
	In 2005 the Afghan Drugs Inter-Departmental Unit was created to manage the UK's increased counter narcotics effort. Since that time, the Government has directly spent the following on counter narcotics programmes in Afghanistan:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2005-06 46.8 
			 2006-07 46.8 
			 2007-08 43.8

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to regulate the activities of UK private security firms operating in  (a) Afghanistan and  (b) elsewhere overseas; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: In late 2004, my right hon. Friend the then Foreign Secretary (Mr. Straw) requested a review by officials of the options for the regulation of the overseas operations of private military and security companies (PMSCs) registered in or operating from the UK. This applies to PMSCs operating both in Afghanistan and elsewhere overseas. This was to follow up on the Green Paper of 2002, 'Private Military Companies: Options for Regulation' and to respond to the increase in activities of PMSCs in areas of conflict overseas.
	The review was completed in mid-2005 and suggested a number of options for ways in which the industry could be regulated. The review also highlighted complex issues, particularly around the definition of what activities should be regulated and how any regulations would be enforced. These issues, along with the options for regulation, continue to be the subject of Ministerial correspondence and official consultation. The Government have undertaken to keep Parliament fully informed of its proposals in this area. If it is agreed that regulation is appropriate, the Government will put the proposals to public consultation.

Ballistic Missile Defence

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the legal status is of the US facilities at RAF Menwith Hill and RAF Fylingdales; and on what international treaties their status is based.

Des Browne: I have been asked to reply.
	RAF Fylingdales is under the direct command of RAF Air Command. RAF Menwith Hill is made available to the United States Visiting Force (USVF) under the terms of the NATO Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) 1951, and other arrangements which are appropriate to the relationship that exists between the UK and the US for the purpose of our common defence. The Secretary of State for Defence retains legal possession and control over all Ministry of Defence sites, including those made available to the USVF. The bases operate with the full knowledge and consent of the Secretary of State and in full accordance with UK law.

Chevening Scholarships Programme

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment was made of the relative effectiveness of Commonwealth Scholarships and Chevening Scholarships for Commonwealth countries prior to the decision to terminate these scholarships.

Jim Murphy: The purpose of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) scholarship schemes is to build personal relationships with international leaders of the future. Following a recent review of all scholarship funding, in accordance with the FCO's global strategy and priorities, it was concluded that the Chevening scholarship scheme achieved this purpose more effectively than the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan.

Colombia: Military Aid

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on UK military assistance to the High Mountain Battalions of the Colombian Army from the recent delegation of Colombian trades unionists hosted by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The issue of UK assistance to specific parts of the Colombian army did not arise during my meeting with the delegation of Colombian trades unionists, whose visit was co-organised by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Trades Union Congress (TUC), nor did it in their subsequent meetings with FCO officials.
	The delegation welcomed the efforts of the international community including the UK to help generate lasting peace in Colombia. However, they also outlined their concerns on the difficult environment for their members, concerns that we share. This is why we will continue to discuss with the Colombian TUC and their UK counterparts how this Government can offer their practical support to Colombian trade unionists.

Colombia: Trade Unions

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Colombian government on the recent murders of trades unionists  (a) Carlos Burbano and  (b) Leonidas Gomez Rozo; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We regard human rights defenders and trade unionists as a fundamental part of Colombian civil society. We have repeatedly urged the Colombian government to do their utmost to ensure that these brave people can take forward their essential work safely and with adequate protection. I did so when visiting Colombia in November 2007 and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary did so with the Colombian Vice President in March. I also reiterated the Government's strong support to a delegation of Colombian trade unionists who visited the UK in early March, a visit co-organised by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Trades Union Congress (TUC).
	I have urged the Colombian government to continue with its programme of expanding protection to trade unions and other human rights defenders, including when I spoke to Vice President Santos and the new Colombian ambassador to London in March 2008. We will continue to discuss with the Colombian TUC, and their UK counterparts, how this Government can offer their practical support to Colombian trade unionists.
	Officials from our embassy in Bogota visited the offices of the National Union of Bank Employees on 27 March to show the Government's support, following the murder of Leonidas Gomez Rozo and the attempted murder of Rafael Boada.
	We make regular and numerous representations to the Colombian government on specific cases of abuse of trade unionists. Our embassy in Bogota has made representations to the Colombian government on the case of Leonidas Gomez Rozo and will do so on Carlos Burbano. I will write to the hon. Member with the outcome of those representations once the embassy receives a response. I will also arrange for copies of the letter to be placed in the Library of the House.

Commonwealth: Overseas Students

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations took place with  (a) the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission and  (b) other external interests before the announcement to end his Department's funding for new awards from 2009-10; and if he will publish the review associated with this decision.

Jim Murphy: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) had no prior consultations with the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission on the specific issue of the ending of FCO funding for new Commonwealth scholars from 2009-10. Officials have regular, close contact with the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission. The 2006 review of FCO scholarships was based on broad consultations with a range of stakeholders. A copy of the 2006 review has been placed in the Library of the House.

Departmental Contacts

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contracts were awarded by his Department to  (a) KPMG,  (b) PricewaterhouseCoopers,  (c) Ernst and Young,  (d) McKinsey,  (e) Deloitte and  (f) other consultancy firms in each of the last 12 months; and what the (i) purpose and (ii) value was of each of these contracts.

Meg Munn: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle Upon Tyne, Central (Jim Cousins) on 26 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 150-52W.
	I also refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for South-West Hertfordshire (Mr. Gauke) on 25 January 2008,  Official Report, column 2308W.
	I can confirm that no contracts have been awarded to McKinsey in the last 12 months.

Diplomatic Service: Resignations

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many officials of the diplomatic service notified his Department that they intended to work in any capacity for  (a) British Aerospace,  (b) British Airways,  (c) BP,  (d) Shell,  (e) Rolls Royce,  (f) HSBC,  (g) Standard Chartered,  (h) RBS,  (i) HBOS,  (j) Barclays and  (k) another company on leaving the service in each of the last five years.

Meg Munn: Civil servants are required to comply with the Business Appointment Rules as set out in the civil service management code. The detailed information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

EC Countries: Eastern Europe

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to work closely with  (a) Poland and  (b) the Czech Republic on EU matters; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: It is our policy to work closely with all the EU member states. The Government have frequent discussions on a wide range of EU matters with Ministers and officials from both Poland and the Czech Republic. In 2007 there were several ministerial exchanges with the Czechs and Poles, including a guest of Government visit by President Klaus of the Czech Republic and a 'European Dialogue' which was launched between the UK and Poland.

EU Common Foreign and Security Policy

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy will be able to represent the UK's interests when representing the EU.

Jim Murphy: The high representative for foreign affairs and security policy will be responsible for implementing the Common Foreign and Security Policy, as mandated by the member states in the Council. He or she will represent the EU on matters on which there is an agreed policy; the president of the European Council will represent the EU at his or her level. As is the case now, it will be for member states to decide by unanimity the matters to be addressed through the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy. Where we do not agree, the UK will still act independently.

European Union: Public Relations

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will ensure that the criteria for the distribution of the UK's portion of the fund to be allocated to public communication under the provisions of the documents Communicating Europe (COM (07) 568) and Proposal for an Interinstitutional Agreement on Communicating European Partnership (COM (07) 569) will include making the monies available in equal proportions to those for and those against European integration.

Jim Murphy: The Government's position on Communicating Europe in Partnership was set out in our explanatory memorandum of 26 October 2007 and my subsequent letters to the European Scrutiny Committee of 6 December 2007 and 17 March 2008.
	As these documents made clear, the purpose of Communicating Europe in Partnership is to improve the coherence, integration and effectiveness of the EU's communications efforts. EU funds will be disbursed in support of these objectives. The Government welcomes the concept of openness underlying the Commission's proposals on Communicating Europe in Partnership. We also welcome the Commission's confirmation that proposals under Communicating Europe in Partnership will be developed through existing Commission funding.
	As set out in my letter of 17 March to the chairman of the European Scrutiny Committee, I can confirm that the European Commission's proposal for an Inter-Institutional Agreement under Communicating Europe in Partnership (Commission Document COM 569 2007) has been abandoned, following member state discussions at the Information Working Group in Brussels.

France: Industrial Disputes

Stephen Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the French government on that government's duty under EU rules to  (a) keep open French ports during industrial action in France and  (b) to compensate UK businesses for the disruption caused during the current Sea France strike.

Jim Murphy: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised this issue with Mr. Bernard Kouchner, the French Minister for Foreign Affairs, during a meeting at the UK-France summit on 27 March 2008.
	During the industrial action taken by Sea France officers in February and March we maintained constant contact with the relevant French authorities through our embassy in Paris and consul-general in Lille. During this time, the French Government fulfilled their obligations to ensure that the industrial action did not lead to closure of ports and ports were closed only due to adverse weather conditions.
	Any UK business which suffered financial loss as a result of the strikes could seek to bring legal action through the French courts. Any claim for compensation would depend on the facts of the individual case, on which independent legal advice should be sought.

Gaza: Borders

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions  (a) he and  (b) his officials have had with (i) the Government of Israel, (ii) the Government of Egypt and (iii) the European Commission on moves to open the Rafah border crossing to cargo; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: The UK wholly supports opening of the Rafah crossing and the restoration of the EU border assistance mission as soon as conditions allow. At the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council on 28 January, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary (David Miliband) and his EU colleagues supported the Egyptian efforts to find a compromise between the parties in order to open the crossing and made clear that
	"the EU is ready to consider resuming its monitoring mission at Rafah under the provisions of the relevant international agreements related to Access and Movement concluded in November 2005".
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has spoken to Israeli Foreign Minister Livni and Egyptian Foreign Minister Abu Gheit on this issue. Our embassies in Cairo and Tel Aviv are also in regular contact with their host governments.

International Cooperation: Bombs

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with  (a) EU partners and  (b) the wider international community on the eradication of cluster munitions; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: The UK has had regular discussions with EU partners and the wider international community on cluster munitions at a number of levels. We are working hard with these partners to ensure we secure legally binding instruments on the production, transfer and stockpiling of those cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians.
	In his speech on the publication of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's 2007 Human Rights Report on 25 March my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary reiterated the Government's commitment to achieving a good result on cluster munitions.

Israel: Armed Conflict

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions  (a) he,  (b) Ministers and  (c) officials in his Department have had with (i) Arab states and (ii) the Government of Israel on the reported storage of (A) rockets and (B) arms by Hamas in civilian areas in Gaza; what response was received from each; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We regularly have discussions with Arab states on the issue of Israeli security. However, we have not discussed this particular matter with Arab states. Israel has made clear to us that it condemns the use of civilians as human shields. The UK condemns the storage of arms and rockets by Hamas in civilian areas. The UK urges all parties to adopt a peaceful, political resolution to the conflict.

Kosovo: Politics and Government

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions  (a) he,  (b) members of his Department and  (c) UK representatives have had with (i) members and (ii) representatives of the Governments of (A) Russia and (B) Serbia on developments in Kosovo (1) since the referendum on 17 February 2007 and (2) with regard to the civil unrest in Mitrovica on 18 March 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: Since Kosovo's declaration of independence on 17 February 2008, the UK has continued its engagement with the Governments of Russia and Serbia, including on the issue of Kosovo. The UK also continues to work with Russia in multilateral fora, discussing Kosovo in the UN Security Council on 17 and 18 February and on 11 March, and at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)-Russia Council on 27 February.
	We strongly condemn the violent disturbances in Mitrovica on 17 March which saw sustained mob violence directed against UN and NATO personnel and which led to the death of a UN police officer.

Nigeria: Politics and Government

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government have taken to assist democratic reform in Nigeria.

Meg Munn: holding answer of 2 April 2008
	The UK regularly stresses the importance of transparency and democratic reform to the Nigerian Government. Following widespread concerns about the conduct of the Nigerian elections in April 2007, we have continued to pursue a range of programmes designed to promote democratisation.
	Over the past three years, the Department for International Development (DFID) has committed up to £7 million to support Nigerian electoral processes, including support to non-governmental organisations involved in voter education and media and conflict monitoring. DFID also works to strengthen the capacity of the Nigerian National Assembly through technical assistance to key parliamentary committees. Its programme 'Coalitions for Change' supports groups from civil society, the private sector, the media and government to work together to change the formal and informal rules that have entrenched poor accountability and poor resource management in Nigeria.
	The British Council has commissioned a report investigating the impact of demographics on electoral inclusion in Nigeria. It has helped develop a number of Youth Assemblies in Nigeria, which provide access to democratic processes to young people. It also supports a youth newspaper and radio broadcasts on governance related issues.
	This year, our High Commission in Abuja initiated a Public Diplomacy programme on Supporting Democratic Development. Other programmes include those to support freedom of expression and association, which also contribute to democratic reform.

Palestinians: Economic Situation

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of  (a) progress on implementation of the Palestinian Reform and Development Plan and  (b) the effect of Hamas' control of Gaza on the overall development of the Palestinian economy.

Douglas Alexander: I have been asked to reply.
	The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) is shortly due to finalise its budget for 2008 and the list of Palestinian Reform and Development Plan (PROP) projects and recurrent costs for donor support. Progress in implementing the PROP will be reported at the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) meeting in London on 2 May. The World Bank and European Commission have established funding mechanisms to co-ordinate donor financial support for the PROP.
	The takeover of Gaza by Hamas in June 2007 led to severe Israeli restrictions on imports into Gaza and a near complete-ban on exports. This has had a profound impact on the Gazan economy. The Palestinian Trade Centre (PalTrade) states that 95 per cent. of industrial working establishments in Gaza closed between July 2007 and February 2008, with the construction, export agriculture, furniture and garment sectors hardest hit. PalTrade estimates that in the construction sector alone, 42,000 workers have been laid off since January 2007.
	The impact of the Hamas takeover and closure of Gaza by Israel on the whole Palestinian economy is more difficult to assess. The Occupied Palestinian Territories' economy was stagnant in 2007 despite large donor inflows. It is likely that without the closure of Gaza, GDP would have grown slightly. According to the World Bank, real GDP per head in the OPTs is now 40 per cent. lower than in 1999.

Palestinians: Overseas Aid

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what mechanisms are in place to ensure that UK funding to the Palestinian Authority is spent on frontline services to help the Palestinian people.

Douglas Alexander: I have been asked to reply.
	UK aid to the Palestinian Authority (PA) is subject to the high levels of scrutiny to ensure it reaches those most in need. Funding is provided through the European Commission's PEGASE mechanism (the replacement for the Temporary International Mechanism) and the new World Bank fund. These mechanisms conduct rigorous checks against each payment, independent auditing, tracking and monitoring.
	The UK is also working with the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the IMF to improve the PA's own financial management systems, which is essential if they are to deliver their frontline services effectively.

Poland: Treaty of Lisbon

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Polish Government on ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has regular contact with his EU counterparts on a variety of issues, including the Lisbon Treaty. It is up to all 27 member states to ratify the Lisbon Treaty in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.
	Both Houses of Parliament in Poland have approved the Lisbon Treaty. The final stage of ratification is the President's signature.

PricewaterhouseCoopers

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has awarded any contracts to PricewaterhouseCoopers since 2000.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has awarded the following contracts to PricewaterhouseCoopers since 2004-05:
	provision of accounting services to FCO Resource Accounts Department; and
	provision of auditing services to FCO Internal Audit Department.
	I also refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central (Jim Cousins) on 26 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 150-152W.
	We only have access to this information dating back to 2004-05, following the introduction of Prism, our financial and management information system.

Sudan: Peace Negotiations

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcome was of the recent meeting in Geneva between Abdul Wahid al-Nur of the Sudanese Liberation Movement and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Meg Munn: On 18 March in Geneva, the African Union (AU) and UN envoys for the Darfur political process and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council agreed with Abdul Wahid al-Nur, president of the Sudan Liberation Movement, on the need to strengthen security in Darfur, notably through the deployment of the UN and AU mission and on the importance of normalising regional relations to build a sustainable political solution to the Darfur crisis.
	The participants made clear to Abdul Wahid al-Nur that he needed to commit fully to the AU/UN-led process including agreeing to a cessation of hostilities and talks through the AU-UN with the Government of Sudan.

Terrorism

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the European Parliament on taking steps to combat and prevent terrorism.

Kim Howells: We work closely with the Council and the Commission of the EU, including through working groups and the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council, to ensure that the EU plays a full and active role in countering the threat of international terrorism. We currently have no plans to make representations to the European Parliament regarding the combating and prevention of terrorism.

Tibet: Human Rights

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the government of China on the right of cultural expression in Tibet.

Meg Munn: We have expressed our concern to Chinese authorities both in Beijing and London about recent events in Tibet and the surrounding region. We have urged them to respect freedom of expression and religion in Tibet; to avoid the use of excessive force in dealing with riots; and to respect fully the human rights of those detained. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister spoke to Chinese Premier Wen on 19 March 2008 urging the Chinese government to address the underlying issues by re-engaging in dialogue without preconditions with the Dalai Lama and his representatives. We discussed the rights of ethnic minorities with Chinese officials at the most recent round of the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue, held on 28 January 2008 in Beijing.

Treaty of Lisbon

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of progress in ratifying the Lisbon treaty in other EU member states; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: All 27 member states must ratify the Lisbon treaty according to their respective constitutional requirements. As of 31 March, Hungary, Malta, Slovenia, Romania, France and Bulgaria have ratified the treaty through Parliament.

UN World Conference Against Racism

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his officials have had with counterparts in  (a) the United States and  (b) the United Nations on the decision of the United States Congress on Durban 2.

Meg Munn: We are aware of the Resolution of the House of Representatives on 23 January 2008. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have been in discussions with their US counterparts and colleagues from the UN on the Durban Review Conference, keeping them informed of our current position.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Burma: Famine

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with  (a) the World Food Programme and  (b) other UN bodies on a potential famine in Chin state, western Burma.

Douglas Alexander: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr. Mitchell) on 25 March 2008,  Official Report, column 34W.

CDC

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his answer of 20 March 2008,  Official Report, column 1273, on CDC, what the 79 CDC subsidiary companies are; in which countries they are registered; and with what regulatory authorities with which their accounts of each are filed.

Douglas Alexander: Contrary .to the answer I gave on 20 March 2008,  Official Report column 1272W we have now been advised by CDC that the list of subsidiary companies at 31 December 2007 now totals 78. CDC Haina (UK) Ltd has been dormant for some time and was dissolved in February 2007. This information has been registered at Companies House. CDC has confirmed that there is no requirement for the company to hold the information on the regulatory authorities with which their accounts are filed. However, they do require subsidiary companies themselves to comply with their respective local country requirements on regulatory norms for filing and submission of accounting information.
	The list of CDC's subsidiary companies is as follows:
	
		
			  Country of incorporation and operation  Subsidiary company 
			 Egypt Middle East Food and Trade Company (S.A.E.) (held by North Africa Foods Limited) 
			 Mauritius CDC Agribusiness Management Limited 
			 Mauritius CDC Fennec Limited 
			 Mauritius CDC Financial Services (Mauritius) Limited 
			 Mauritius CDC Haina (Mauritius) Limited 
			 Mauritius CDC Investment Holdings Limited 
			 Mauritius CDC South Asia Limited 
			 Mauritius Globeleq Holdings (Songas) Limited (held by Globeleq Africa Holdings Limited) 
			 Mauritius Globeleq Holdings Kondapalli Limited (held by Globeleq Asia Holdings Limited) 
			 Mauritius North Africa Foods Limited (held by Pan Africa Holdings Limited) 
			 Mauritius Pan African Holdings Limited 
			 Mauritius Afriforest Investments Limited 
			 Mauritius Equitoria Teak Holdings Limited(held by Afriforest Investments Limited) 
			 Mauritius Actis Afica Agrifinance Limited 
			 Mauritius CAC Holdings (Mauritius) Limited 
			 Mauritius CAC Holdings (Latin America) Limited (held by CAC Holdings (Mauritius) Limited 
			 South Africa Globeleq Services South Africa (Pty) Limited (held by Globeleq Africa Holdings Limited) 
			 Sudan Equatoria Teak Company Limited(held by Equitoria Teak Holdings Limited) 
			 Sudan African Forest Group Limited(held by Afriforest Investments Limited) 
			 Tanzania Forest Technical Services Limited (held by Pan African Holdings Limited) 
			 Tanzania Freshfields Investments Limited (held by Pan African Holdings Limited) 
			 Tanzania Globeleq Tanzania Services Limited (held by Globeleq Services Limited) 
			 Tanzania Songas Limited (held by Globeleq Tanzania Limited and Globeleq Somanga Limited) 
			 Tanzania Kilombero Valley Teak Company Limited 
			 Tanzania Tata Tea Limited (held by Fresh fields Limited) 
			 Tanzania Wakulima Tea Company Ltd (held by Tata Tea) 
			 Tanzania Kabana Tea Ltd (held by Tata Tea) 
			 Tanzania Chain Bora Ltd (held by Tata Tea) 
			 Uganda Development Finance Company of Uganda 
			 Uganda DECO Bank Limited (held by Development Finance Company of Uganda) 
			 Uganda DECO Leasing Company Limited (held by Development Finance Company of Uganda) 
			 Uganda Rwenzori Properties Limited (held by Development Finance Company of Uganda) 
			 Uganda Housing Finance Company of Uganda Limited (held by Development Finance Company of Uganda) 
			 Uganda Rwenzori Courts Limited 
			 Uganda Umeme Limited (held by Globeleq Holdings Concho Limited) 
			 Uganda Equatoria Teak Services Limited (held by Equatoria Teak Holdings Limited) 
			 Zambia Mpongwe Development Company Limited 
			 Zambia Mpongwe Milling Limited (held by Mpongwe Development Company Limited) 
			 Zambia Munkumpu Farms Limited (held by Mpongwe Development Company Limited) 
			 Zambia Nanga Farms Limited 
			 Zimbabwe Kohler Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd( held by Lenco Holdings Limited) 
			 Barbados CDC Airport Investment (Barbados) Limited (held by CDC Holdings (Barbados) Limited) 
			 Barbados CDC (Euro) Limited 
			 Barbados CDC Holdings (Barbados) Limited 
			 Bermuda CDC Globeleq Holdings Limited (held by CDC Financial Services (Mauritius) Limited) 
			 Bermuda Globeleq Africa Holdings Limited (held by Globeleq Africa Limited) 
			 Bermuda Globeleq Africa Limited (held by CDC Globeleq International Limited) 
			 Bermuda Globeleq Holdings Azito Limited (held by Globeleq Africa Holdings Limited) 
			 Bermuda Globeleq Holdings Concho Limited (held by Globeleq Africa Holdings Limited) 
			 Bermuda Globeleq Holdings Tsavo Limited (Globeleq Africa Holdings Limited) 
			 Bermuda Globeleq Maghreb Limited (held by Globeleq Africa Holdings Limited) 
			 Bermuda Globeleq Tanzania Limited (held by Globeleq Holdings (Songas) Limited) 
			 British Virgin Islands Tradewinds Investments Holdings Corp 
			 Cayman Islands CDC Digicel Holdings Limited (held by CDC Holdings (Barbados) Limited) 
			 Cuba CDC Equipment Leasing Limited 
			 Guyana Guyana Housing and Development Company Limited 
			 Guyana Guyana Mortgage Finance Company Limited 
			 Netherlands Antilles CDC Capital Partners Netherlands Antilles NV 
			 United States Globeleq Inc (held by Globeleq Advisers Limited) 
			 Indonesia PT CDC Land 
			 Malaysia CDC Holdings Sdn Bhd 
			 Malaysia Kulai Oil Palm Estate Sdn Bhd 
			 Singapore CDC Veracruz Pte Limited 
			 Singapore CDC Guadalajara Pte Limited 
			 Singapore CDC Monterrey Pte Limited 
			 Singapore Pacific Rim Palm Oil PTE Limited 
			 Mauritius and India Nandi Investments Ltd (held by CDC Financial Services (Mauritius) Limited) 
			 Jersey Globeleq Somanga Limited (held by Globeleq Holdings (Songas) Limited) 
			 United Kingdom Globeleq Advisers Limited 
			 United Kingdom CDC Asset Management Limited 
			 United Kingdom CDC Capital Partners Limited 
			 United Kingdom CDC Capital for Development Limited 
			 United Kingdom CDC Emerging Markets Limited 
			 United Kingdom CDC Equity Partners Limited 
			 United Kingdom CDC Funds Management Limited 
			 United Kingdom CDC Limited 
			 United Kingdom CDC Overseas Holdings Limited 
			 United Kingdom CDC Venture Capital Limited

Departmental Coordination: Overseas Aid

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had on the Delivery Agreement for Public Service Agreement 29 with  (a) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office,  (b) the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and  (c) HM Treasury; and what his Department's specific responsibility is for each of the eight indicators associated with this target.

Shahid Malik: The Delivery Board for the PSA on International Poverty Reduction (PSA 29) met for the first time in February. The Department for International Development's (DFID) permanent secretary chaired the meeting and the permanent secretaries from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Her Majesty's Treasury and the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs attended, as did a representative from the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit (PMDU). The delivery board are scheduled to meet in April to finalise the performance framework.
	Under the framework, DFID will lead on each of the eight indicators, including establishing the baseline position and targets, and the monitoring of progress against the targets set.

Departmental Public Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the reasons were for his Department's £91 million use of end year flexibility.

Shahid Malik: The Department for International Development's (DFID) £91 million end of year flexibility (EYF) consists of £75.5 million resource and £15.1 million capital.
	Of the £75.5 million resource, £63.5 million is near cash and £12 million non-cash. We keep a small non-cash EYF stock to manage fluctuations in International Finance Institutions' (IFI) capital charges.
	The £63.5 million near cash resource EYF stock represents about 1.5 per cent. of DFID resource outturn in 2006-07 and represents a prudent end-year operating margin.
	The £15.1 million capital EYF has been drawn down and utilised during 2007-08.

Departmental Standards

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of his Department's contribution to Public Service Agreements  (a) 3,  (b) 25,  (c) 27 and  (d) 30.

Shahid Malik: The 30 new public service agreements (PSA) set out the key priority outcomes the Government want to achieve in the 2008-11 spending period. The Department for International Development (DFID) is a formal delivery partner for the PSAs on climate change (PSA 27) and conflict prevention (PSA 30). In addition, through our work on poverty reduction, the Department will contribute to delivery of the PSAs on migration (PSA 3) and counter-terrorism (PSA 26).
	 PSA 27
	In consultation with others, we are helping to design a suite of multi-donor climate investment funds to reduce poverty through action on climate change. These will be launched in 2008 and will be capitalised by funds from the £800 million in the international window of the UK's Environmental Transformation Fund. In addition, we are supporting the Global Environment Facility (GEF), multilateral development banks' Clean Energy Investment Framework and UN Special Adaptation Funds, and working to address the information and knowledge gaps relating to climate change impacts in Africa. We will also be looking to address climate change through our bilateral programmes, such as in China and Bangladesh.
	 PSA 30
	Many of the countries and regions which are the focus of the new conflict prevention PSA are priorities for DFID. Reducing poverty in these fragile and conflict-affected states is essential to tackle the conditions in which conflict emerges and to achieve the MDGs. DFID is increasing levels of funding to fragile and conflict affected countries. In addition to these efforts, DFID is working with FCO and MOD to help prevent, manage and resolve conflict through the Conflict Prevention Pool (CPP) and the Stabilisation Aid Fund (SAF). The total value of these funds is set to rise from £139m (2007-08) to £229 million (2010-11). The PSA also focuses on building more effective international institutions. DFID has been working with FCO and MOD to strengthen the UN's capacity to prevent conflict and build peace, and has committed funds of more than £50 million over three years to the Peacebuilding Fund, the Peacebuilding Support Office and UNDP's Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery.
	 PSA 3
	DFID is contributing £35 million to a new cross-government Returns and Reintegration Fund led by the FCO. The Fund will be headed by a DFID staff member and DFID country teams will be contributing their expertise to make sure fund projects are as effective as they can be.
	 PSA 26
	Within the parameters of the International Development Act, our programme will make a positive contribution to the Government's counter-radicalisation effort. In November, the Prime Minister publicly committed DFID, FCO and the British Council to spending
	"around £400 million over the next three years....to tackle radicalisation and promote understanding overseas".

Departmental Standards

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the likely date for the next update of progress on indicators  (a) 1,  (b) 2,  (c) 3,  (d) 4 and  (e) 7 associated with Public Service Agreement 29.

Shahid Malik: The first planned reporting round relevant to the reporting of Public Service Agreement (PSA) 29 is the 2008 Autumn Performance Report, which is usually published in November or December.

Departmental Standards

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made towards his Department's April deadline for establishing the baseline data for the eight indicators associated with Public Service Agreement 29.

Shahid Malik: Official international data showing progress towards the millennium development goals (MDG) indicators, which are published by the United Nations, will be used to set the baseline position for the eight indicators associated with public service agreement 29. These data were last published in July 2007. We expect an update of the data in June or July.

Departmental Video Conferencing

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will set a target to increase the use of video-conferencing by his Department to reduce the need to travel to meetings.

Shahid Malik: There are no plans to set a target to increase the use of video-conferencing with the specific aim of reducing travel. The Department for International Development (DFID) does however have a target to reduce air miles flown by 5 per cent. per annum and video-conferencing is one tool helping to achieve this.
	Meetings are arranged around the needs of the business but before any travel is authorised in DFID staff must confirm that they have considered using video-conference.
	DFID currently use a total of 119 video-conference units, in the UK and overseas. In the last year DFID held 7,169 managed video conferences. A recent study showed that video-conferencing in DFID avoids more than two million miles of air travel a year.

Gaza: Politics and Government

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Gaza; and what estimate he has made of the number of people  (a) at risk of starvation,  (b) without access to basic medical treatment and  (c) without access to safe drinking water; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) is deeply concerned by the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Currently there is no danger of starvation but an estimated 1.1 million Gazans—80 per cent. of Gaza's population—is at least partly dependent on food aid. Food aid provided by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and the World Food Programme (WFP) covers 60 per cent. to 80 per cent. of calorific need of those that receive it, with people left to buy the remainder.
	Palestinians currently have access to basic medical treatment and medicines continue to enter Gaza. However, the health care system is under strain as infrastructure and equipment deteriorates. The World Health Organization reports that 85 essential items are nearly or completely depleted, largely because of procurement problems.
	The water and sanitation sector throughout Gaza is facing severe difficulties. Gaza has traditionally had problems with the purity of its drinking water but the current situation is exacerbated by power cuts affecting pumping stations; 90 per cent. of mains water is polluted and up to 60 million litres of raw or poorly treated sewage are being discharged into the Mediterranean sea each day. Figures are unavailable for the number of people affected by the polluted water.
	This situation has not been caused by a lack of response or support from the international community, rather the continued restrictions on access to Gaza.
	To help ease the situation the UK provided £15.45 million in March 2008 through the European Commission's PEGASE mechanism, supporting essential services and providing allowances to 77,000 key workers. To support the work of UNRWA DFID provided £15.6 million in 2007-08.

Overseas Aid

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much was allocated by his Department to non-governmental organisations providing international relief or development aid in each year between 2005 and 2007.

Shahid Malik: Total UK Bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA) channelled through non-governmental organisations (NGO's) between 2005 and 2007 is set out in the following table below:
	
		
			  UK Bilateral ODA channelled through NGO's between 2005 and 2007 
			   £ million 
			  Calendar year  Total 
			 2005 339.02 
			 2006 343.00 
			 2007 335.87

Pakistan: Asylum

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate his Department has made of the number of  (a) refugees and  (b) internally displaced people resident in (i) Pakistan and (ii) Tanzania in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The information requested is as follows:
	 Pakistan
	Estimate of refugee numbers in Pakistan for each year since 2000 are as follows (figures collected by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees):
	
		
			   Number of refugees (million) 
			 2000 1.2 
			 2001 2.2 
			 2002 1.9 
			 2003 1.1 
			 2004 1 
			 2005 1.08 
			 2006 1.04 
			 2007 2.03 
		
	
	There are no comprehensive figures on internally displaced people in Pakistan during this period.
	However, two recent humanitarian disasters in Pakistan led to the creation of IDPs over a short-term period. Approximately 250,000 were internally displaced following floods in the provinces of Balochistan and Sindh in June 2007 and as a result of the October 2005 earthquake, the estimates of IDPs were: 350,000 (2005); 297,000 (2006); 38,000 (2007) and 4.933 (as at 1 February 2008).
	 Tanzania
	Estimate of refugee numbers in camps in Tanzania for each year since 2000 are as follows (figures collected by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees):
	
		
			   Number of refugees (thousand) 
			 2000 510.9 
			 2001 498.1 
			 2002 519.4 
			 2003 479.8 
			 2004 403.9 
			 2005 350.6 
			 2006 287.1 
			 2007 217.4 
			 2008 (as at 29 February) 209.4 
		
	
	In addition to the numbers above, a further 218,000 Burundian refugees are also living outside camps in Tanzania.
	Tanzania has no identified internally displaced people.

Rackspace

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the value was of each contract awarded to Rackspace by his Department in each of the last nine years.

Shahid Malik: The Department for International Development (DFID) has no record of current or previous contracts with Rackspace for the period requested.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Children in Care

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps the Government has taken to improve the lives of children in care.

Kevin Brennan: The Government published the "Care Matters" White Paper in June 2007 setting out reforms needed to transform the life chances of children and young people in care, to ensure good parenting from everyone in the system and the centrality of the voice of the child. It built on responses to the Green Paper "Care Matters: Transforming the Lives of Children and Young People in Care", and the conclusions of four working groups established to investigate best practice in supporting those in care.
	Since 2000-01 local authority expenditure on these services has increased from £1.3 billion to just under £2.1 billion in 2005-06, an increase of 57 per cent. In addition, the White Paper announced around £300 million extra funding over four years to support the further improvements needed. A range of legislative changes to support the "Care Matters" reforms are also currently being debated in Parliament as part of the Children and Young Persons Bill.
	On 26 March 2008 the Government, Association of Directors of Children's Services, and Local Government Association published an implementation plan "Care Matters: Time to deliver for children in care". It encourages systematic planning for service improvement and lists tools, resources and support available to assist local improvement. The implementation plan can be found at:
	http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/socialcare/childrenincare
	The process of improvement will be taken forward through a series of regional conferences for those involved in working with looked after looked after children over the spring and summer.

Curriculum

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the  (a) average and  (b) recommended number of hours per week spent on (i) mathematics, (ii) English, (iii) science, (iv) modern languages and (v) history and geography was for school children in each school year in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Knight: The statutory National Curriculum Programmes of Study set out what is to be taught in each subject, not how it is to be taught, nor for how many hours each week. The Department does not recommend, nor does it collect data on, the average number of hours spent each week teaching mathematics, English, science, modern foreign languages, history and geography.
	However, through the Secondary Schools' Curriculum and Staffing Survey (SSCSS), we have data available for 1996 and for 2002 on the average number of standardised periods studied by pupils in year groups 7 to 11 in named subjects. The results are set out in the annex and are taken from the 'Statistical First Release 25/2003, Secondary Schools Curriculum and Staffing Survey: November 2002 (Provisional)'. The SSCSS is an occasional sample survey carried out every four to six years and it does not provide comprehensive time series data.
	
		
			  Table 4: Average number of standardised periods( 1)  studied by pupils( 2)  in year groups 7 to 11 in named subjects (revised)—England 
			  Standardised periods( 1) 
			   Year group 
			   7  8 
			   1996  2002   1996  2002  
			  Subject  Average  ±  Average  ±  Change( 3)  Average  ±  Average  ±  Change( 3) 
			 Mathematics 5 0.1 5 0.1 0 5 0.1 5 0.1 0 
			 English 5 0.1 5 0.2 0 5 0.1 5 0.1 0 
			 Combined/ General Science 5 0.1 5 0.1 0 5 0.1 5 0.1 0 
			 Biology 2 0.1 2 0.0 -1 2 0.1 2 0.0 0 
			 Chemistry 2 0.0 2 0.0 0 2 0.0 2 0.0 0 
			 Physics 2 0.0 2 0.0 0 2 0.0 2 0.0 0 
			 Other Sciences 3 0.2 5 0.0 1 4 0.2 5 0.0 1 
			 French 4 0.1 4 0.1 0 4 0.1 3 0.1 0 
			 German 4 0.6 3 0.1 0 3 0.6 3 0.1 0 
			 Spanish 4 0.6 3 0.1 0 3 0.6 3 0.1 0 
			 Other Modern Languages 4 0.4 3 0.1 -1 4 0.4 3 0.1 0 
			 Design and Technology 3 0.1 3 0.1 0 3 0.1 3 0.1 0 
			 Information & Communication Technology 1 0.1 1 0.0 0 1 0.1 1 0.0 0 
			 Other/Combined Technology 4 0.4 3 0.1 0 3 0.4 3 0.1 0 
			 Home Economics(2) 2 0.4 — — — 2 0.4 — — — 
			 Business Studies 1 0.0 1 0.0 0 1 0.0 1 0.0 0 
			 Classics 1 0.0 2 0.0 1 2 0.0 2 0.0 0 
			 History 3 0.1 2 0.1 0 3 0.1 3 0.1 0 
			 Religious Education 2 0.1 2 0.1 0 2 0.1 2 0.1 0 
			 Geography 3 0.1 2 0.1 0 3 0.1 3 0.1 0 
			 Other Social Studies 1 0.0 2 0.0 1 2 0.0 1 0.0 -1 
			 Combined Arts/Humanities/Social Studies 4 0.5 6 1.2 0 4 0.5 6 0.4 1 
			 Music 2 0.1 2 0.1 0 2 0.1 2 0.0 0 
			 Drama 2 0.1 1 0.1 0 2 0.1 1 0.0 0 
			 Art and Design 2 0.1 2 0.1 0 2 0.1 2 0.0 0 
			 Physical Education 3 0.1 3 0.1 0 3 0.1 3 0.1 0 
			 Careers Education 1 0.0 1 0.0 0 2 0.0 1 0.0 0 
			 Personal, Social and Health Education 2 0.1 1 0.2 0 2 0.1 1 0.2 0 
			 General Studies 2 0.1 2 0.0 0 2 0.1 2 0.0 0 
			 Citizenship — — 2 0.6 — — — 2 0.5 — 
			 Other Subjects Not Covered Above(5) 3 0.7 2 2.7 0 3 0.7 2 3.2 0 
		
	
	
		
			  Standardised periods( 1) 
			   Year group 
			   9  10 
			   1996  2002   1996  2002  
			  Subject  Average  ±  Average  ±  Change( 3)  Average  ±  Average  ±  Change( 3) 
			 Mathematics 5 0.1 5 0.1 0 5 0.1 5 0.1 0 
			 English 5 0.1 5 0.1 0 5 0.1 5 0.1 0 
			 Combined/ General Science 5 0.1 5 0.1 0 7 0.1 7 0.3 0 
			 Biology 2 0.1 2 0.0 0 3 0.1 3 0.2 0 
			 Chemistry 2 0.0 2 0.0 0 3 0.0 3 0.2 0 
			 Physics 2 0.0 2 0.0 0 3 0.0 3 0.2 0 
			 Other Sciences 4 0.3 5 0.0 1 5 0.3 7 0.1 1 
			 French 4 0.1 3 0.1 0 4 0.1 4 0.1 0 
			 German 3 0.6 3 0.1 0 4 0.6 4 0.0 0 
			 Spanish 3 0.6 3 0.1 0 4 0.6 4 0.0 0 
			 Other Modern Languages 4 0.4 3 0.1 0 4 0.4 4 0.1 0 
			 Design and Technology 3 0.1 3 0.1 0 4 0.1 4 0.1 0 
			 Information & Communication Technology 1 0.1 1 0.1 0 3 0.1 3 0.6 0 
			 Other/Combined Technology 3 0.4 3 0.1 0 4 0.4 3 0.0 0 
			 Home Economics(2) 2 0.4 — — — 4 0.4 — — — 
			 Business Studies 1 0.0 3 0.0 2 4 0.0 4 0.3 0 
			 Classics 2 0.0 2 0.0 0 4 0.0 3 0.0 -1 
			 History 3 0.1 3 0.1 0 4 0.1 4 0.1 0 
			 Religious Education 2 0.1 2 0.2 0 2 0.1 2 0.2 0 
			 Geography 3 0.1 3 0.1 0 4 0.1 4 0.1 0 
			 Other Social Studies 2 0.0 1 0.0 -1 3 0.0 4 0.0 0 
			 Combined Arts/Humanities/Social Studies 4 0.5 5 0.3 0 4 0.6 5 0.6 0 
			 Music 2 0.1 2 0.0 0 4 0.1 3 0.1 0 
			 Drama 2 0.1 2 0.1 0 4 0.1 4 0.1 0 
			 Art and Design 2 0.1 2 0.0 0 4 0.1 4 0.1 0 
			 Physical Education 3 0.1 3 0.1 0 3 0.1 3 0.2 0 
			 Careers Education 1 0.0 1 0.0 0 1 0.0 1 0.3 0 
			 Personal, Social and Health Education 2 0.1 1 0.2 0 2 0.1 2 0.9 0 
			 General Studies 1 0.0 1 0.0 0 2 0.0 2 0.4 0 
			 Citizenship — — 2 0.6 — — — 2 0.6 — 
			 Other Subjects Not Covered Above(5) 3 0.7 2 3.3 0 4 0.8 6 4.8 0 
		
	
	
		
			  Standardised periods( 1) 
			   Year group 
			   11 
			   1996  2002  
			  Subject  Average  ±  Average  ±  Change( 3) 
			 Mathematics 5 0.1 5 0.1 0 
			 English 5 0.1 5 0.1 0 
			 Combined/General Science 7 0.1 7 0.3 0 
			 Biology 3 0.1 3 0.2 -1 
			 Chemistry 3 0.0 3 0.2 -1 
			 Physics 3 0.0 3 0.2 0 
			 Other Sciences 5 0.3 7 0.2 1 
			 French 4 0.1 4 0.1 0 
			 German 4 0.6 4 0.0 0 
			 Spanish 4 0.6 3 0.1 0 
			 Other Modern Languages 4 0.4 3 0.1 0 
			 Design and Technology 4 0.1 4 0.1 0 
			 Information & Communication Technology 3 0.1 3 0.3 0 
			 Other/Combined Technology 4 0.4 4 0.1 0 
			 Home Economics(1) 4 0.4 — — — 
			 Business Studies 4 0.0 4 0.2 0 
			 Classics 4 0.0 3 0.0 -1 
			 History 4 0.1 4 0.1 0 
			 Religious Education 2 0.1 2 0.2 0 
			 Geography 4 0.1 4 0.1 0 
			 Other Social Studies 4 0.0 4 0.0 0 
			 Combined Arts/Humanities/Social Studies 4 0.6 5 0.3 0 
			 Music 4 0.1 4 0.1 0 
			 Drama 4 0.1 4 0.1 0 
			 Art and Design 4 0.1 4 0.1 0 
			 Physical Education 3 0.1 3 0.2 0 
			 Careers Education 1 0.0 1 0.1 0 
			 Personal, Social and Health Education 2 0.1 2 0.2 0 
			 General Studies 2 0.0 3 0.7 0 
			 Citizenship — — 2 0.6 — 
			 Other Subjects Not Covered Above(2) 4 0.8 5 2.5 0 
			 (1) Periods have been standardised to a 40 period week. (2) Restricted to pupils that study the subject. (3) Changes since 1996 have been calculated taking the 95 per cent. confidence intervals into consideration and rounded. (4) Home Economics was classified as an individual subject in 1996. In 2002 it was classified with Design and Technology. (5) Includes Special Educational Needs for both 1996 and 2002 subject classifications.

Departmental Correspondence

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many  (a) referrals and  (b) letters of notification were received by the Department in each of the last five years from (i) state maintained and (ii) independent schools;
	(2)  how many  (a) referrals and  (b) letters of notification on child protection received by the Department in each of the last five years from (i) state maintained and (ii) independent schools were subsequently reported to the police with a copy sent to the Department;
	(3)  when he plans to answer question  (a) 188765 tabled on 20 February and  (b) 189250 tabled on 21 February, on child protection.

Kevin Brennan: Where employers (including independent schools) in the education sector have ceased to use the services of a person because they consider that person is unsuitable to work with children, or they would have ceased to use the person's services where the person has left their employment, they are required to refer information to the Department. In addition, the police refer to the Department cautions and convictions for those who have been working in educational establishments in accordance with Home Office Circular 6/2006 (The Notifiable Occupations Scheme). Identifying how many referrals and letters of notification were received from (i) state maintained and (ii) independent schools and how many were subsequently reported to the police with a copy sent to the Department would require detailed checks to be made
	of individual case records and this would incur disproportionate cost.

Departmental Public Bodies

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will list each of his Department's  (a) agencies and  (b) non-departmental public bodies, setting out in each case their (i) function, (ii) latest estimated annual running costs and (iii) number of staff; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: The information is as follows.
	 (a) The Department is not responsible for any Executive agencies.
	 (b) The Department is responsible for eight Executive non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) and three advisory NDPBs. The names of these NDPBs are listed on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/ndpb/.
	(i) Details of the budget and function of each NDPB is published in the Department's Annual Report 2007 and in Public Bodies 2007, which are available on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/aboutus/reports/pdfs/deptreport2007.pdf.
	The following NDPBs are the responsibility of the Department for Children, Schools and Families and their (i) function, (ii) latest estimated annual running costs and (iii) number of staff are set out as follows:
	 British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (BECTA)
	(i) Becta is the Government's lead partner in the strategic development and delivery of the e-strategy;
	(ii) £10.460 million;
	(iii) 201 staff.
	 Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS)
	(i) CAFCASS is involved in family law proceedings under the Children Act 1989 and its role is to advice the courts on what is in the best interests of a child;
	(ii) £104.818 million;
	(iii) 1,701 staff.
	 Independent Advisory Group on Teenage Pregnancy
	(i) The Advisory Group's function is to provide advice to the Government and monitor the overall success of the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy towards achieving the goals of reducing the rate of teenage conceptions and reaching a 60 per cent. target of teenage parent participation in education, training or employment, to reduce the risk of their long-term exclusion;
	(ii) £0.04 million;
	(iii) The body does not employ staff.
	 National College for School Leadership (NCSL)
	(i) NCSL's function is to develop excellent school leadership to transform children's achievement and well-being; to develop leadership within and beyond the school; to identify and grow tomorrow's leaders; and create a fit-for-purpose, national college;
	(ii) £8.928 million;
	(iii) 265 staff.
	 Office of the Children's Commissioner, known as 11 MILLION
	(i) The function of the Children's Commissioner is to promote awareness of the views and interests of children as set out in the Children Act 2004;
	(ii) The Commissioner's Office, 11 MILLION, has a budget of £3 million;
	(iii) 20 staff.
	 Partnerships for Schools (PfS)
	(i) PfS supports the local delivery of the Government's Building Schools for the Future programme (including academies);
	(ii) £12.5 million (of which the Department funds 50 per cent.);
	(iii) 106 staff.
	 Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA)
	(i) QCA maintains and develops the national curriculum and associated assessments, tests and examinations, as well as accrediting qualifications in colleges and at work. QCA also regulates awarding bodies and exams to ensure they are fit for purpose;
	(ii) £47.6 million;
	(iii) 490 staff.
	 School Food Trust (SFT)
	(i) SFT's function is to promote the education and health of children and young people by increasing the quality of food supplied and consumed in school;
	(ii) £7.5 million;
	(iii) 43 staff funded by grant-in-aid by the Department.
	(The SFT also receives lottery funding to employ additional staff to take forward it Let's Get Cooking Programme).
	 School Teachers Review Body (STRB)
	(i) The STRB's function is to consider matters referred to it by the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families in relation to the remuneration, professional duties or working time of school teachers; and to report to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State;
	(ii) The Office of Manpower Economics provide the secretariat for the STRB and recover the associated cost from their sponsoring Department—BERR;
	(iii) The body does not employ staff.
	 Teachers' TV board of governors
	(i) The Teachers' TV board of governors' function is to upholding the editorial independence of the Teachers' TV channel; to advise the Secretary of State on the performance of the supplier; and to ensure that Teachers' TV meets the needs of its audiences and fulfils its strategic aims;
	(ii) £0.2 million;
	(iii) The body does not employ staff.
	 Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA)
	(i) TDA's function is to secure the supply of the school work force through promotion of the teaching profession and quality assurance for initial teacher training (ITT); to support the development of the school work force through creation and promotion of professional and occupational standards, support of performance management arrangements and stimulation of a sufficient supply of high quality in-service training; to support the ongoing modernisation of the school work force, the wider education sector and children's and young people's services;
	(ii) £25.103 million;
	(iii) 303 staff.

Intimidation: Internet

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent steps the Government has taken to tackle online bullying.

Kevin Brennan: The Government have taken a range of steps to tackle online bullying. We have enacted legislation giving school staff clear statutory power to confiscate mobile phones and discipline pupils for bad behaviour off school premises. We have made practical guidance on tackling cyberbullying available to all schools; and we will soon be making a curriculum resource pack dealing with cyberbullying available to teachers. We have also asked the Department's Cyberbullying Task Force, which brings together teacher unions and internet service providers, to consider what more can be done to prevent cyberbullying of school staff.
	In addition, the Government have accepted the recommendations of the Byron Review of children and new technology. These include the establishment of a UK Council for Child Internet Safety, to provide strategic leadership for all work to protect children on the internet, as well as a major social marketing campaign and initiatives to support parents, schools and children services to help children manage online risks, including those from cyberbullying.

Teachers: Educational Broadcasting

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the cost to his Department of the Teachers TV channel was in each of the last five years.

Kevin Brennan: Teachers' TV was launched in February 2005 and aims to help raise standards in classrooms by sharing good practice, supporting continuing professional development, offering classroom resources, and providing education news and information. In the channel's first operating year the Department provided funding of £19.9 million, in the second £16 million and £16.7 million in its third year.

Truancy

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the rate of unauthorised absence was in  (a) Cornwall,  (b) the South West and  (c) England in each year since 1979.

Kevin Brennan: Information on absence rates for the latest available year, 2006/07, is shown in the table. Data on pupil absence were not collected prior to 1993/94; however comparable data for 1993/94 to 2005/06 are not readily available on a consistent basis at local and regional levels.
	
		
			  Primary, secondary and special schools( 1, 2) ,  p upil absence by type of school, 2006/07, for Cornwall local authority area and South West Government office region 
			Maintained primary and secondary schools, all special schools, city technology colleges and academies 
			  Percentage of half days missed( 3) 
			Number of day pupils of compulsory school age( 4)  Number of enrolments( 5)  Authorised absence  Unauthorised absence  Overall absence  Percentage of persistent absentees( 6) 
			  England 6,332,070 6,582,430 5.49 1.00 6.49 4.1 
			  South West 608,520 633,080 5.66 0.86 6.52 3.8 
			 908 Cornwall 62,585 65,044 5.84 0.79 6.64 3.5 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. Excludes general hospital schools. (3) The number of sessions missed due to authorised/unauthorised/overall absence expressed as a percentage of the total number of possible sessions. (4) Pupil numbers are as at January 2007. Includes pupils aged five to 15 with sole and dual (main) registration. Excludes boarders. (5) Number of enrolments in schools between from start of the school year until 25 May 2007. Includes pupils on the school roll for at least one session who are aged between five and 15. Excludes boarders. Some pupils may be counted more than once (if they moved schools during the school year or are registered in more than one school). (6) Number of persistent absentees expressed as a percentage of the total number of enrolments.  Note: National and regional totals have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: School Census.

Young People: Disadvantaged

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps the Government has taken to assist disadvantaged young people in the West Midlands since 1997.

Beverley Hughes: Effective help for disadvantaged young people depend on a partnership approach. Young People are generally facing more than one issue that usually involves the expertise of more than one agency. The Government's approach has been to encourage partnership working and sharing of information, while ensuring young people have a single point of contact. Since 1997 the creation of Youth Offending Teams, Drugs Action Teams, Connexions Partnerships, local Teenage Pregnancy Boards, and Children's Trusts have changed the way disadvantaged groups are supported.
	This has been supported by the creation of a new profession of personal advisers (PAs) to act as lead professionals in helping young people sort out their problems and get back on the path to success. PAs have been recruited and trained by Connexions Partnerships and there are now approximately 1,000 operating in the West Midlands.
	The introduction of the Youth Opportunities Fund and Youth Capital Fund (YOF/YCF) during the last year has given young people the opportunity to participate in a range of positive activities. It has actively encouraged participation and engagement of disadvantaged young people and those who are hard to reach. The funds are worth £6.5 million in the West Midlands, with young people as the applicants, decision makers and beneficiaries. YOF/YCF will continue for the next three years.
	The West Midlands Healthy Care Programme and Healthy Care Grant is supporting vulnerable young people in the West Midlands. This is mainly through targeted support through individual local authorities and support through key networks, including Education Protects, West Midlands Leaving Care Managers Network and Healthy Care Network.
	Extended schools are a key mechanism through which Government provide support to children and young people and their families. The Government's aim is that at least half of all primary schools and a third of all secondary schools should be providing access to the full core offer by the end of September 2008. In the West Midlands Coventry has already exceeded this figure, and is delivering the offer in over 70 per cent of schools in the area (compared to a national average of 45 per cent.).

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Departmental Publicity

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much his Department, its predecessor and its agencies spent on staff working on  (a) marketing and  (b) branding in the last 12 month period for which figures are available.

David Lammy: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills was created as a result of machinery of government changes on 28 June 2007. Since that date the Department has spent an estimated total of £9,000 on staff involved in branding and £191,788.04 on marketing staff.
	The National Weights and Measures Laboratory in the last 12 months has spent an estimated £3,750 on marketing activities. Much of this, but not all, is devoted to marketing specific services to business such as type approval and certification.
	There has not been any staff effort on branding.
	In the 12 months to 29 February 2008 the UK-IPO spent no staff time on branding. While the office does not use staff to directly market its services it did spend £636,600 on raising awareness, education and informing groups about the IP system which touch on the services offered by the UK-IPO and other national and international bodies.

Kelvin Business School

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  prior to its removal from the Register of Education and Training Providers on 19 July 2007, on what dates official visits or checks were carried out on Kelvin Business School;
	(2)  on what date his Department first received representations on the legitimacy of Kelvin Business School as an education provider;
	(3)  on what dates Ministers attended meetings to discuss Kelvin Business School's removal from the Register of Education and Training Providers.

Bill Rammell: Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) officers were first tasked to carry out intelligence-led investigation of Kelvin Business School on 14 March 2007 and the inspection took place on 29 March 2007. The nature of the visit was to seek compliance with the immigration rules and all reasonable steps were taken to ensure the principal had an opportunity to demonstrate the college was bona-fide. Since the initial visit to the college the Home Office wrote to the principal seeking additional documentation on 6 June 2007 and subsequently on the 26 June 2007. The principal replied to the both Home Office letters within the 14 day deadline, but on both occasions submitting documentation which did not meet the criteria set out by the Home Office. After the second deadline for submission of documents had passed on the 10 July the Home Office wrote to the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills on 12 July informing DIUS that Kelvin Business School was in breach of the Immigration Rules and should be removed from the Register. This was done on 19 July 2007.
	The registration process is one of continual assessment, BIA staff will recommend the removal of colleges found to be in breach of registration criteria. The final decision to remove is one for DIUS to make. The decision to remove Kelvin Business School was clear cut and did not require ministerial discussion.

Nanotechnology: Public Participation and Regulation

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  what plans he has to take forward public engagement on nanotechnologies; and how his plans for public engagement will feed into policy in 2008-09;
	(2)  when he will implement the recommendations of each Government-commissioned review on the regulatory framework for nanotechnology;
	(3)  if he will set out a  (a) timescale and  (b) process for evaluating progress on the Government's commitments regarding nanotechnologies.

Ian Pearson: The Government's aim is for the UK to derive maximum benefit from nanotechnologies and their products in a way that safeguards health, safety and the environment and addresses the aspirations and concerns of the public. The statement by the UK Government about nanotechnologies, announced in the written ministerial statement of 28 February 2008,  Official Report, columns 86-7W, explains what the Government are doing to deliver these objectives.
	The Government do not hold a list of products containing free nanoparticles although it has published a report on the manufacture and use of nanomaterials in the UK:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/nanotech/research/reports/index.htm#manufacture
	To promote a standardised approach to labelling and ensure that products containing manufactured nanoparticles can be correctly identified, the British Standards Institute has recently published a good practice guidance document PAS 130:2007 'Guidance on the labelling of manufactured nanoparticles and products containing manufactured nanoparticles'.
	The Research Councils are undertaking public dialogue on nanotechnologies and the topic is likely to feature in work resulting from the recent programme of stakeholder engagement to identify the implications of new and emerging science and technology.
	Government Departments and agencies are keeping under review the need for action to address regulatory gaps in the light of emerging evidence. The ministerial group on Nanotechnologies (which comprises the Ministers Science and Innovation; the Environment; Public Health; Health and Safety; and Business and Competitiveness) will oversee the process and will also review progress on delivery of the Government's other commitments regarding nanotechnologies.

Performing Right Society: Licences

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  how much the Performing Right Society collected from the issuing of music licences in each of the last five years for which data is available;
	(2)  how many Performing Right Society hairdresser and beauty salon licences were issued in each of the last five years for which data is available;
	(3)  how many Performing Right Society small premises licences were issued in each of the last five years for which data is available;
	(4)  how much was collected in higher royalty rate Performing Right Society licences in each of the last five years for which data is available;
	(5)  how much was collected by the Performing Right Society in licence fees from the hairdressing and beauty salons tariff in each of the last five years for which data is available;
	(6)  how much was collected by the Performing Right Society in small premises licence tariffs in each of the last five years for which data is available.

Ian Pearson: This is a matter for the Performing Rights Society and any inquiries should be directed to them.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Aggregates: South East

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how the amounts set out in the regional guidelines for land-won sand and gravel production for the South East set out in the National and Regional Guidelines for Aggregates Provision in England 2001 to 2016 are allocated between each local authority in the region; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the proportion of demand for aggregates in London which will be met from sources within London in the next  (a) five,  (b) 10 and  (c) 20 years.
	(3)  pursuant to the answer of 18 February 2008,  Official Report, columns 31-2W, on gravel, what steps she plans to take to increase the proportion of aggregates extracted from marine sources in the South East region.

Iain Wright: The regional guidelines for provision of land-won sand and gravel in south east England for 2001 to 2016 are set out in the National and Regional Guidelines for Aggregates Provision in England, published in 2003. The regional guidelines are apportioned to mineral planning authorities in the region by the Regional Planning Body, taking into account advice from the mineral planning authorities and the South East of England Regional Aggregates Working Party. The guidelines make provision for the very limited available sources in London to supply 19 million tonnes of land-won sand and gravel over the guidelines period, (8 per cent. of forecast demand).
	Minerals Policy Statement 1 "Planning and Minerals" encourages the environmentally acceptable supply of marine-dredged sand and gravel. The proportion of the supply of aggregates in the south east region which comes from this source is largely determined by the market and the capacity of the marine aggregates dredging industry.

Allotments

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will  (a) collate information on allotment provision held at a local level,  (b) encourage local authorities to devote more resources to providing and maintaining allotments and  (c) increase funding for allotment sites.

Iain Wright: Government recognise the significant benefits that allotments provide. The Government do not hold information on allotment provision in local authorities, although we do collate information on the disposal of allotments. To improve information available on green spaces, including allotments, we have commissioned the development of a green space database. This will be an interactive mapping tool which will bring together several datasets and provide the opportunity for local authorities, and other users, to access and input information on quality and provision of green space, including allotments. The newly revised good practice guide, Growing in the community, published by the Local Government Association in March 2008, includes information on how local authorities can better maintain allotment sites and provide extra resources to do so. Local authorities have the freedom to manage their own resources. It is up to them to determine their spending priorities within the resources available to them.

Audit Commission: Pensions

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the rate of employer contributions is to the pension scheme of which employees at the Audit Commission for England and Wales are members.

John Healey: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member directly.
	 Letter from Steve Bundred, dated 3 April 2008:
	Parliamentary Question on what the rate of employer contributions is to the pension scheme of which employees at the Audit Commission for England and Wales are members.
	Your Parliamentary Question on what the rate of employer contributions is to the pension scheme of which employees at the Audit Commission for England and Wales are members has been passed to me to reply.
	The Audit Commission Pension Scheme (ACPS) is a funded, self-administered defined benefit pension scheme which was established with the inception of the Audit Commission in 1983. The ACPS is subject to the requirements of Scheme Specific Funding as introduced in the Pensions Act 2004.
	The current employers' contribution rate to the Audit Commission Pension Scheme is 17% whilst employees contribute 6% of their salary.
	From 1 April 2005 the Wales Audit Office (WAO) took over responsibility for auditing and inspecting Welsh public services. Employees of the WAO are now members of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme.
	The text of this letter will be placed in Hansard.

Carbon Emissions

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what definition her Department uses of  (a) zero-carbon and  (b) carbon neutral.

Iain Wright: Zero carbon homes mean that over a year, the net carbon emissions from all energy use in the home are zero. This would include energy use from cooking, washing and electronic appliances as well as space heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting and hot water. This was set out in the policy statement 'Building A Greener Future' published in July 2007 which confirmed the Government's commitment to zero carbon homes from 2016.
	The term "carbon neutral" can be used to describe organisations, events, goods or services which act to prevent as much carbon emissions as they produce.

Casinos: Planning Permission

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2008,  Official Report, column 545W, on casinos: planning permission, if she will place in the Library a copy of the document held by the Planning Inspectorate and provided as part of the appeal statement by the appellant in the case of Blue Chip Casino against the decision of Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, ref: APP/G4620/A/06/2007910.

Iain Wright: The appeal documents can be viewed on the local planning authority's website at:
	www.sandwell.gov.uk

Civil Service Appeal Board

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what percentage of appeals by employees of  (a) her Department and  (b) its agencies were (i) heard and (ii) upheld by the Civil Service Appeal Board in each of the last 10 years; how much was awarded in compensation by the Board to each successful appellant in each year; what the reason was for each compensation award; how many appellants were reinstated by the Board in each year; and what the reason was for each (A) dismissal and (B) reinstatement.

Parmjit Dhanda: The only appeal upheld by the Civil Service Appeal Board in each of the last 10 years for this Department occurred in 2006-07. In view of this, the Department considers it would be inappropriate to give further details which might allow the appellant to be identified.

Community Relations: Elderly

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what  (a) support and  (b) guidance her Department gives to local projects to support the social interaction of elderly people living alone.

Iain Wright: Communities and Local Government contributes to local projects to support the social interaction of elderly people living alone in a variety of ways, including through housing and related support services. For example, the Supporting People Programme, created in 2003, which is a grant programme administered through top tier local authorities, helps over 840,000 older people through housing support services to live independently in their home and community. Together, local authorities spent over £300 million on housing support services for older people in 2006-07.
	We recently published "Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods—A National Strategy? for Housing in an Ageing Society" which promotes improved social inclusion and participation of older people through better housing in age friendly communities. This includes the promotion of Lifetime Homes and Neighbourhoods, better home repairs and adaptations services. Additional funding of £33 million between 2008-10 will go to support local agencies, such as Home Improvement Agencies, to help older people with minor repairs and adaptations. Good practice examples included in this strategy show how these and other agencies can provide a vital link to help people to access other support services to increase participation in the community.

Council Tax

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 963-4W, on council tax, when the table will be deposited in the Library; what the reasons are for the time taken to do so; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: The table has now been deposited in the Library of the House.

Departmental Consultants

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many consultants were employed by her Department in each month since January 2007; and what the total cost of such employment was.

Parmjit Dhanda: This information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Contracts

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what contracts were awarded by her Department to  (a) KPMG,  (b) PricewaterhouseCoopers,  (c) Ernst and Young,  (d) McKinsey,  (e) Deloitte and  (f) other consultancy firms in each of the last 12 months; and what the (i) purpose and (ii) value was of each of these contracts.

Parmjit Dhanda: Contracts awarded to the five named companies in the last 12 months are detailed as follows.
	 (a) KPMG
	(i) Independent audit advice to the Supporting People Programme.
	(ii) £67,000
	 (b) PricewaterhouseCoopers
	(i) Consultancy support to Internal Audit Service
	(ii) £600,000
	(i) Economic support to Communities' Capability Review Commitments.
	(ii) £28,630
	 (c) Ernst and Young
	(i) No Contracts awarded
	(ii) £0
	 (d) McKinsey
	(i) Support for Communities' High Level Seminar.
	(ii) £125,000
	 (e) Deloitte
	(i) No Contracts awarded
	(ii) £0
	Costs exclude VAT. Details of contracts awarded to other consultancy firms could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Data Protection

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what audits her Department and its agencies have carried out in relation to personal data and IT equipment in each of the last 10 years.

Parmjit Dhanda: Communities and Local Government's security team has a rolling programme of security checks and reviews that check that protectively marked material, including personal information, is handled and stored correctly, and that portable ICT equipment is adequately secured when not in use. They also verify that the department's Government offices and agencies meet the appropriate standards.
	As part of the review of data handling carried out by the Cabinet Office in 2007, Communities and Local Government did go through an exercise of identifying major business systems which held personal data. This has confirmed that many areas of this Department already have appropriate processes and controls in place. Communities and Local Government will be implementing the recommendations of the report of this review. New systems involving the storage and processing of data have to be formally accredited by the departmental IT security officer regarding data safeguards, and regularly reaccredited thereafter.

Departmental Domestic Visits

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what visits she made to  (a) Harrogate International Centre,  (b) International Conference Centre, Birmingham,  (c) Manchester Central,  (d) Scottish Exhibitional and Conference Centre, Glasgow,  (e) Edinburgh International Conference Centre,  (f) Bournemouth International Conference Centre,  (g) the Brighton Centre, Brighton,  (h) the Riviera Centre, Torquay,  (i) Queen Elizabeth Centre, London,  (j) Excel Conference Centre, Docklands, London, and  (k) Business Design Centre, Islington, London, in the period 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2007; and what events she attended at each.

Parmjit Dhanda: Records are only held centrally back to June 2006. This list is therefore not comprehensive, as it would require a detailed audit of records held off site, which could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Date  Venue  Event 
			 19 June 2007 Harrogate International Conference Centre Launch of the Cave Report 
			 20 June 2006 Harrogate International Conference Centre Chartered Institute of Housing Annual Conference 
			 26 February 2007 Birmingham International Conference Centre British Muslim Forum 
			 19 September 2006 Birmingham International Conference Centre Development Trust Association Conference 
			 5 July 2006 Bournemouth International Conference Centre Local Government Association Annual Conference 
			 19 June 2006 QE2 Conference Centre Communities and Local Government Staff Conference 
			 22 November 2006 Excel Exhibition Centre, Docklands Thames Gateway Forum 
			 27 November 2006 QE2 Conference Centre Commission for Racial Equality Race Convention 
			 29 January 2007 QE2 Conference Centre Speech on planning 
			 16 May 2007 QE2 Conference Centre Work Wise UK Conference 
			 12 December 2007 QE2 Conference Centre Local Government Association Conference

Departmental Internet

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 6 March 2008,  Official Report, on departmental intranet, how many Wikipedia entries have been  (a) created and  (b) amended from departmental IP addresses.

Parmjit Dhanda: Communities and Local Government does not hold this information centrally and it could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Wikipedia is not a website which we monitor the usage of specifically.

Departmental Marketing

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much her Department spent on publicity and advertising in 2007-08.

Parmjit Dhanda: The final evaluation of the public information campaigns carried out by the Department in 2007-08 is currently being prepared and will be published in the Department's annual report, which will be placed in the Library of the House.

Departmental Public Participation

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what payments her Department has made to opinion research companies other than Ipsos MORI in the last 12 months; at what cost; and for what purposes.

Parmjit Dhanda: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 14 March 2008,  Official Report, column 699W, given to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill).

Development: Standards

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 19 February 2008,  Official Report, column 644W, on regional planning and development: standards, which local authorities have had their proposed core strategy rejected or found unsound by  (a) her Department,  (b) independent examination and  (c) the relevant government office for the region; and what the reason was for such a finding in each case.

Iain Wright: Development Plan Documents are examined by an Independent Planning Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State.
	The Inspector will produce a report, the recommendations of which are binding on the local authority, and which the authority must publish. If there are serious problems with the plan the Inspector may find it to be unsound and require it to be redone and resubmitted. At present, eight local authorities have had their core strategies found unsound in this manner. These are:
	Windsor and Maidenhead
	Carrick
	Teignbridge
	Lichfield
	Stafford
	Ryedale
	Chichester
	Restormel
	The reasons why a plan is unsound are set out in the published Inspector's report, details of which can be found on the web sites of the relevant local authorities.

Energy Performance Certificates

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make it her policy that input matrix information relating to an energy performance certificate be released to the householder commissioning the certificate.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 10 March 2008
	The input matrix information is not currently available to the householder commissioning the energy performance certificate. We have no plans to make this information available.

Energy Performance Certificates

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department has issued to those preparing energy performance certificates on the account to be taken of  (a) window sizes and  (b) multiple glazing in assessing energy performance.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 10 March 2008
	The competencies required of energy assessors when preparing energy performance certificates are set out in the National Occupational Standards (NOS) published by Asset Skills. They include requirements to make accurate observations and measurements and to carry out calculations using the Government's Standard Assessment Procedure for the Energy Rating of Dwellings, SAP 2005. SAP 2005 takes into account window area and the presence or otherwise of multiple glazing.
	General guidance on the software used to prepare EPCs has been produced by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Energy: Conservation

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will estimate the energy efficiency ratings of council-owned housing in the City of Newcastle; and what improvements in that rating she has required in the next phase of the Decent Homes programme.

Iain Wright: Newcastle city council have been required to report against Best Value Performance Indicator 63 entitled 'Average Standards Assessment Procedure (SAP) rating for all HRA (local authority) dwellings' using SAP 2001 methodology. Their returns are shown as follows.
	
		
			   SAP 
			 2002-03 50.1 
			 2003-04 Not known 
			 2004-05 58.16 
			 2005-06 59 
			 2006-07 61 
		
	
	The Government have not taken any decisions about work following on from the Decent Homes programme. On December 12 the then Housing Minister my right hon. Friend the Member for Pontefract and Castleford announced a review of the financing of council housing. The purpose of the review of the Housing Revenue Account Subsidy System is to ensure that we have a sustainable, long term system for financing council housing. One of the work streams of the review is considering the issue of costs and standards for council housing. This work will help to inform any decision about a capital investment programme that will follow the decent homes programme.

Equality and Human Rights Commission: Public Appointments

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will appoint a commissioner to the Equality and Human Rights Commission with responsibilities for the non-religious element of the religion or belief equality strand covering beliefs such as humanism.

Barbara Follett: I have been asked to reply.
	The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) Board currently consists of 16 Commissioners (including three Transition' Commissioners) with a range of different perspectives and expertise in the field of equality and human rights.
	All Commissioners are appointed on the basis of their experience or knowledge of discrimination and human rights and collectively represent the wide range of views present in our society.
	There are currently no plans to appoint any further Commissioners to the Board.

Fire Services

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many incidents on or near water were attended by the Fire Service in each year since 1994; and how many people were rescued by the Fire Service on or near water in each year.

Parmjit Dhanda: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Fire Services

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many lift rescues were carried out by the fire and rescue service in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Parmjit Dhanda: The number of lift release incidents attended by fire and rescue services in England is set out as follows:
	
		
			   Number of incidents 
			 1994-95 23,005 
			 1995-96 24,446 
			 1996-97 23,070 
			 1997-98 24,013 
			 1998-99 23,689 
			 1999-2000 24,124 
			 2000-02 24,477 
			 2001-02 25,709 
			 2002-03 25,326 
			 2003-04 26,001 
			 2004-05 24,105 
			 2005-06 24,473 
			  Source: Annual returns to CLG

Fire Services

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) chemical and  (b) fuel (i) spills and (ii) suspected spills the fire and rescue service in each fire authority area attended in each year since 1994.

Parmjit Dhanda: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Fire Services

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many special service incidents were attended by the fire service in each fire authority area in each year since 1994.

Parmjit Dhanda: Available information, for the period 1995 to 2006, has been placed in the Library

Fire Services: Buildings

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1220W, on fire services: buildings, what method of calculation was used to determine the size of regional control centres.

Parmjit Dhanda: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given on 25 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1220W, 6 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2776W and 7 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2887W. All of these factors combine to determine the size of the Regional Control Centres.

Fire Services: Exhaust Emissions

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many fire authorities have converted their fleets, in whole or in part, to run on  (a) compressed natural gas,  (b) liquid petroleum gas and  (c) electricity.

Parmjit Dhanda: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Fires: Death

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many deaths in accidental dwelling fires there were in each fire and rescue service area in each year since 1997.

Parmjit Dhanda: The following table shows the number of fatal casualties from accidental dwelling fires, for each Fire and Rescue Service in England, in each year since 1997. Please note that the figures for 2006 are provisional and subject to change.
	
		
			  Table 1: Fatal casualties in accidental dwelling( 1)( , 2)  fires, by fire and rescue service, 1997-2006 
			  FRS Area  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002( 3)  2003( 3)  2004  2005  2006( 4) 
			  England 376 339 281 303 321 265 302 228 232 228 
			
			  England ( n on Met Counties) 210 176 144 164 167 154 157 121 113 131 
			 Avon 1 3 6 4 4 6 6 2 7 5 
			 Bedfordshire 2 3 1 5 3 4 3 2 3 3 
			 Berkshire 4 6 3 7 4 1 4 1 1 2 
			 Buckinghamshire 6 1 3 5 3 4 4 1 1 2 
			 Cambridgeshire 4 1 2 2 1 0 0 2 0 3 
			 Cheshire 9 6 7 6 7 5 4 1 6 2 
			 Cleveland 7 2 2 1 5 2 5 2 4 1 
			 Cornwall 6 2 3 4 2 3 3 3 4 1 
			 Cumbria 4 5 3 3 5 2 3 3 2 2 
			 Derbyshire 6 7 4 9 5 5 8 5 0 1 
			 Devon 3 5 3 5 3 3 6 1 2 6 
			 Dorset 5 1 8 1 8 3 1 3 1 1 
			 Durham 8 4 5 4 3 3 8 1 3 4 
			 East Sussex 5 6 4 2 3 2 6 4 1 4 
			 Essex 9 4 6 8 5 7 6 5 12 4 
			 Gloucestershire 4 2 0 2 0 2 4 1 1 2 
			 Hampshire 5 6 9 7 5 4 5 7 6 10 
			 Hereford and Worcester 3 4 2 2 2 4 4 1 1 2 
			 Hertfordshire 10 5 4 6 5 6 0 0 4 4 
			 Humberside 6 8 4 7 6 7 7 7 2 1 
			 Isle of Wight 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Kent 7 5 5 9 10 6 6 5 6 4 
			 Lancashire 22 15 13 15 14 19 12 15 8 10 
			 Leicestershire 4 9 3 1 4 5 4 8 3 3 
			 Lincolnshire 2 7 3 3 4 5 4 4 2 4 
			 Norfolk 5 1 5 6 5 2 4 3 5 5 
			 North Yorkshire 6 8 4 2 4 5 5 2 2 4 
			 Northamptonshire 4 5 2 3 2 2 2 3 2 4 
			 Northumberland 3 1 1 1 6 0 3 0 1 1 
			 Nottinghamshire 15 9 7 3 6 5 3 5 5 7 
			 Oxfordshire 2 8 5 1 3 6 4 2 2 3 
			 Shropshire 1 0 1 5 2 3 1 1 1 4 
			 Somerset 4 1 0 1 4 1 4 2 2 3 
			 Staffordshire 9 8 6 6 5 4 2 4 2 3 
			 Suffolk 4 6 1 3 5 4 4 2 3 5 
			 Surrey 5 5 3 7 2 4 7 2 4 4 
			 Warwickshire 2 3 1 5 6 0 1 2 3 0 
			 West Sussex 4 3 4 3 2 4 3 9 0 4 
			 Wiltshire 3 0 1 0 2 6 1 0 0 2 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			
			  England (Met Counties) 166 163 137 139 154 111 145 107 119 97 
			 Greater Manchester 26 23 27 21 27 16 21 17 26 17 
			 Merseyside 10 20 7 20 13 10 8 11 12 3 
			 South Yorkshire 6 12 11 10 17 4 10 11 10 7 
			 Tyne and Wear 5 10 5 5 7 4 6 3 4 6 
			 West Midlands 15 17 16 27 17 15 17 11 15 16 
			 West Yorkshire 20 20 17 18 11 12 22 15 7 15 
			 Greater London 84 61 54 38 62 50 61 39 45 33 
			 (1) Includes caravans, houseboats and other non-building structures used as a permanent dwelling—see explanatory note 8. (2) Includes "late" calls and heat and smoke damage incidents. (3) Includes fatalities reported during periods of industrial action. (4) Provisional.

Fires: Death

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many deaths there were in dwelling fires in each fire and rescue services area in England in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Parmjit Dhanda: The following table shows the number of fatal casualties from dwelling fires, for each fire and rescue service in England, in each year since 1997.
	
		
			  Fatal casualties in dwelling fires( 1,2)  by FRS area and year, UK, 1997 to 2006 
			  FRS area  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			  England 432 383 334 351 358 309 345 269 369 287 
			
			  England—non-Met counties 250 202 174 189 188 179 179 137 201 165 
			 Avon 4 4 8 5 6 6 5 3 6 3 
			 Bedfordshire 3 4 1 5 3 4 5 2 2 4 
			 Berkshire 5 7 3 7 4 1 6 2 3 2 
			 Buckinghamshire 7 2 4 6 3 6 4 1 3 1 
			 Cambridgeshire 4 2 3 3 2 1 2 3 7 5 
			 Cheshire 11 7 8 6 7 5 4 1 5 4 
			 Cleveland 10 2 3 1 5 2 8 2 3 2 
			 Cornwall 6 3 3 4 4 3 3 3 3 1 
			 Cumbria 4 5 3 3 5 3 3 3 8 3 
			 Derbyshire 7 8 7 10 5 10 11 6 7 1 
			 Devon 4 6 4 7 3 4 6 1 2 6 
			 Dorset 5 1 8 2 8 6 1 3 6 1 
			 Durham 9 4 9 7 5 3 8 4 5 5 
			 East Sussex 7 8 5 3 3 4 6 4 8 5 
			 Essex 14 6 6 10 6 7 8 6 10 8 
			 Gloucestershire 4 2 1 2 1 2 5 1 1 2 
			 Hampshire 5 8 9 8 7 5 5 7 7 11 
			 Hereford and Worcester 6 4 3 2 2 4 4 2 4 3 
			 Hertfordshire 10 7 4 6 5 5 0 0 1 4 
			 Humberside 7 10 5 7 7 7 7 7 7 1 
			 Isle of Wight 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 - 1 
			 Kent 7 5 5 9 11 8 9 5 7 4 
			 Lancashire 22 15 15 17 14 23 13 15 17 19 
			 Leicestershire 4 9 3 1 5 7 4 9 12 6 
			 Lincolnshire 2 7 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 
			 Norfolk 5 1 5 9 6 2 4 3 3 6 
			 North Yorkshire 7 8 4 2 4 5 5 2 2 4 
			 Northamptonshire 8 8 5 3 3 3 2 3 6 5 
			 Northumberland 3 1 2 1 6 0 3 0 1 1 
			 Nottinghamshire 16 10 8 3 6 6 4 5 6 7 
			 Oxfordshire 4 8 5 1 3 5 4 2 3 4 
			 Shropshire 3 0 1 8 2 4 1 1 6 5 
			 Somerset 4 1 0 1 5 5 4 2 4 3 
			 Staffordshire 10 8 7 8 7 5 3 6 8 9 
			 Suffolk 6 6 1 3 5 4 4 2 2 4 
			 Surrey 5 6 3 7 2 4 7 2 5 4 
			 Warwickshire 2 4 2 5 6 0 1 2 2 . 
			 West Sussex 5 4 7 3 2 4 4 12 13 4 
			 Wiltshire 4 0 1 0 4 2 2 1 1 2 
			 Isles of Scilly — — — — — — — — — — 
			
			  England—Met Counties 182 181 160 162 170 130 166 132 168 122 
			 Greater Manchester 29 24 29 23 27 17 28 17 23 23 
			 Merseyside 10 21 8 22 15 9 10 13 15 4 
			 South Yorkshire 6 12 11 12 18 5 12 12 12 9 
			 Tyne and Wear 5 16 5 5 7 4 7 4 5 7 
			 West Midlands 16 19 22 30 23 18 17 17 24 24 
			 West Yorkshire 24 23 20 22 12 21 25 23 32 18 
			 Greater London 92 66 65 48 68 56 67 46 57 37 
			 (1) Including late call and heat and smoke damage incidents. (2) Excluding incidents not recorded during periods of industrial action in 2002 and 2003

Fires: Death

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people were killed in dwelling fires in each fire authority area in each year since 1994.

Parmjit Dhanda: The following table shows the number of fatal casualties from dwelling fires, for each Fire and Rescue Service in England, in each year since 1997.
	
		
			  Fatal casualties in dwelling fires( 1,2)  by FRS area and year, UK, 1994-2006 
			  FRS area  1994  1995  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			  England 366 428 428 432 383 334 351 358 309 345 269 369 287 
			   
			  England—Non-Met counties 189 236 238 250 202 174 189 188 179 179 137 201 165 
			 Avon 6 2 3 4 4 8 5 6 6 5 3 6 3 
			 Bedfordshire 4 4 6 3 4 1 5 3 4 5 2 2 4 
			 Berkshire 5 3 12 5 7 3 7 4 1 6 2 3 2 
			 Buckinghamshire 3 4 4 7 2 4 6 3 6 4 1 3 1 
			 Cambridgeshire 5 3 9 4 2 3 3 2 1 2 3 7 5 
			 Cheshire 6 6 8 11 7 8 6 7 5 4 1 5 4 
			 Cleveland 1 7 5 10 2 3 1 5 2 8 2 3 2 
			 Cornwall 0 6 1 6 3 3 4 4 3 3 3 3 1 
			 Cumbria 4 10 3 4 5 3 3 5 3 3 3 8 3 
			 Derbyshire 9 6 5 7 8 7 10 5 10 11 6 7 1 
			 Devon 8 5 6 4 6 4 7 3 4 6 1 2 6 
			 Dorset 1 10 8 5 1 8 2 8 6 1 3 6 1 
			 Durham 9 6 3 9 4 9 7 5 3 8 4 5 5 
			 East Sussex 2 6 7 7 8 5 3 3 4 6 4 8 5 
			 Essex 5 11 13 14 6 6 10 6 7 8 6 10 8 
			 Gloucestershire 5 7 5 4 2 1 2 1 2 5 1 1 2 
			 Hampshire 7 14 15 5 8 9 8 7 5 5 7 7 11 
			 Hereford and Worcester 6 2 1 6 4 3 2 2 4 4 2 4 3 
			 Hertfordshire 4 6 10 10 7 4 6 5 5 0 0 1 4 
			 Humberside 9 18 8 7 10 5 7 7 7 7 7 7 1 
			 Isle of Wight 1 2 1 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 — 1 
			 Kent 10 12 12 7 5 5 9 11 8 9 5 7 4 
			 Lancashire 9 21 19 22 15 15 17 14 23 13 15 17 19 
			 Leicestershire 3 9 10 4 9 3 1 5 7 4 9 12 6 
			 Lincolnshire 5 6 4 2 7 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 
			 Norfolk 3 2 2 5 1 5 9 6 2 4 3 3 6 
			 North Yorkshire 7 5 7 7 8 4 2 4 5 5 2 2 4 
			 Northamptonshire 3 4 3 8 8 5 3 3 3 2 3 6 5 
			 Northumberland 4 3 0 3 1 2 1 6 0 3 0 1 1 
			 Nottinghamshire 5 4 11 16 10 8 3 6 6 4 5 6 7 
			 Oxfordshire 3 4 10 4 8 5 1 3 5 4 2 3 4 
			 Shropshire 7 1 1 3 0 1 8 2 4 1 1 6 5 
			 Somerset 3 3 5 4 1 0 1 5 5 4 2 4 3 
			 Staffordshire 6 8 7 10 8 7 8 7 5 3 6 8 9 
			 Suffolk 2 9 0 6 6 1 3 5 4 4 2 2 4 
			 Surrey 7 2 4 5 6 3 7 2 4 7 2 5 4 
			 Warwickshire 1 1 1 2 4 2 5 6 0 1 2 2 — 
			 West Sussex 3 1 2 5 4 7 3 2 4 4 12 13 4 
			 Wiltshire 8 3 7 4 0 1 0 4 2 2 1 1 2 
			 Isles of Scilly — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			   
			  England—Met counties 177 192 190 182 181 160 162 170 130 166 132 168 122 
			 Greater Manchester 35 27 24 29 24 29 23 27 17 28 17 23 23 
			 Merseyside 16 15 19 10 21 8 22 15 9 10 13 15 4 
			 South Yorkshire 3 8 11 6 12 11 12 18 5 12 12 12 9 
			 Tyne and Wear 12 6 12 5 16 5 5 7 4 7 4 5 7 
			 West Midlands 21 26 19 16 19 22 30 23 18 17 17 24 24 
			 West Yorkshire 23 29 35 24 23 20 22 12 21 25 23 32 18 
			 Greater London 67 81 70 92 66 65 48 68 56 67 46 57 37 
			 (1) Including late call and heat and smoke damage incidents (except 1994) (2) Excluding incidents not recorded during periods of industrial action in 2002 and 2003

Floods: Fire Services

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many incidents involving flooding the Fire and Rescue Service attended in each year since 2000; and how many people were rescued from flooding by the service in each year.

Parmjit Dhanda: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Government Office for London: Finance

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which Government funding streams have been distributed through the Government Office for London since 1997; and how much has been distributed through each such stream in each year since 1997.

Parmjit Dhanda: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Angela E. Smith) to the hon. Member for Hazel Grove (Andrew Stunell) on 27 June 2006,  Official Report, column 296W.
	I have placed in the Library a full breakdown of expenditure figures for 2005-06 and 2006-07 along with allocation details for 2007-08.

Home Information Packs: Standards

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when standard assessment procedures for home information pack accreditation schemes will be operational in England.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 10 March 2008
	Energy assessments for dwellings on construction are based on a single common methodology called the "Standard Assessment Procedure". Energy performance certificates for newly built homes are produced using this procedure, and will be required from 6 April under the regulations implementing the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.

Homelessness: Leicestershire

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people in  (a) Charnwood and  (b) Loughborough were (i) homeless, (ii) rough sleeping and (iii) in temporary accommodation in each of the last 10 years.

Iain Wright: Information about local authorities' actions under homelessness legislation is collected quarterly at local authority level. This information includes the number of households accepted by local authorities as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and therefore owed a main homelessness duty. The duty owed to an accepted household is to secure suitable accommodation. If a settled home is not immediately available, the authority may secure temporary accommodation until a settled home becomes available.
	A table summarising homelessness figures for each local authority for the past 10 years, including the total number of households accepted as owed the main homelessness duty, the total number of households in temporary accommodation and the mid-year estimates of the number of rough sleepers, is available in the Library of the House.
	The local authority of Charnwood includes the city of Loughborough. An extract from the table is provided as follows and provides data for Charnwood for the past 10 years.
	
		
			  Table A: Number of households accepted( 1)  as owed a main homelessness duty during the year, 1997-98 to 2006-07 
			   1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Charnwood 97 148 126 144 174 318 255 187 174 166 
			 (1) Households eligible under homelessness legislation, found to be unintentionally homeless and in a priority need category, and consequently owed a main homelessness duty. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Number of households in temporary accommodation( 1) , March 1998 to March 2007 
			   1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Charnwood 15 14 16 30 37 55 66 63 79 87 
			 (1) Households who have been accepted as owed the main homelessness duty, those for which inquiries into whether they are owed the duty are pending, and those who were found to be intentionally homeless but are being accommodated for a reasonable period by the LA. It excludes households designated as 'homeless at home', that have remained in their existing accommodation and have the same rights to suitable accommodation as those in temporary accommodation arranged by the authority. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table C: Number of rough sleepers (persons), 1998 to 2007, mid-year estimates( 1) 
			   1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Charnwood 0 0 6 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 (1) Estimates based on a combination of recent street counts in those areas where there is a known or suspected rough sleeping problem and of estimates made by local authorities, as reported on their HSSA returns to CLG in June of each year. 
		
	
	Data are published in our quarterly statistical release on Statutory Homelessness, which includes a supplementary table showing the breakdown of key data, including temporary accommodation for each local authority. The supplementary tables are published on our website and placed in the Library each quarter. The latest release was published on 10 March 2008 and contains data for the period October to December 2007 at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/homelessnessstatistics/publicationshomelessness/
	Since 1998, information has also been collected on the number of people who sleep rough—that is, those who are literally roofless on a single night—and these are also published on our website, nationally and by local authority at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/homelessness/publicationsabouthomelessness/roughsleepingstatistics/

Housing: Local Government Finance

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what value of subsidy was paid to each local authority from the Housing Revenue Account in the last year for which figures are available.

John Healey: A table showing housing revenue account subsidy entitlement for each local housing authority in 2006-07 has been deposited in the Library of the House.
	Housing revenue account (HRA) subsidy is a deficit subsidy paid to those local housing authorities where their assumed need to spend on their housing stock is greater than their assumed income to enable them to run their local authority housing. Where assumed income is greater than assumed need to spend, for 2006-07, this was recycled inside the HRA subsidy regime to help pay for the national HRA subsidy bill.

Housing: Low Incomes

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many planning appeals for affordable housing schemes were determined in each of the last three years; in how many of these cases the lead developer was a registered social landlord; and how many appeals were  (a) allowed and  (b) dismissed.

Iain Wright: The following table shows the number of planning appeals determined in 2005, 2006 and 2007 in England that involved an element of affordable housing and how many appeals were  (a) allowed and  (b) dismissed. It is not possible to identify in how many of these cases the lead developer was a registered social landlord.
	
		
			   Number of appeals determined  (a) Number allowed  (b) Number dismissed 
			 2005 60 15 45 
			 2006 97 37 60 
			 2007 93 38 55

Local Authorities: Non-Profit Making Associations

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department has given to local authorities on their procurement of service delivery from social enterprises; what assessment she has made of local authorities' procurement practices; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: The National Procurement Strategy for Local Government (published by the then ODPM and Local Government Association in 2003) made clear that local authorities should embrace a positive approach to achieving a mixed economy of services, including through engagement with social enterprises and other suppliers. The Department will publish shortly a final report on progress with the strategy which will note that there is greater awareness of what the social enterprise sector can offer, for example by highlighting social enterprise in the Small Business Friendly Concordat.
	The Department believes that local authorities should recognise and embrace diversity in the ways in which services are provided, with the focus on desired outcomes and not on whether the service is delivered by the public, private or third sectors. To this end, the Secretary of State announced at the Voice 08 Conference in Liverpool that Communities and Local Government is to set up a new Social Enterprise Unit whose remit will include working with social enterprises and local authorities on the provision of services.

Local Authorities: Pay

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department provides to local authorities on senior staff salary levels.

John Healey: Local authorities are responsible for pay and grading decisions, including those for senior officials.
	The Joint Negotiating Committees for chief executives and chief officers produce guidance on national salary framework and conditions of service for local authority chief executives and chief officers. Details of how to obtain the relevant handbooks can be found on the Local Government Employers website.

Local Authorities: Pay

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local authority chief executives received annual pay packages of  (a) 100,000 to 109,999,  (b) 110,000 to 119,999,  (c) 120,000 to 129,999,  (d) 130,000 to 139,999, (e) 140,000 to 149,999 and  (f) 150,000 and over in the last year for which figures are available.

John Healey: Central Government do not collect this information. However, the Local Government Employers conducts an annual survey on chief executive and chief officer salaries and workforce numbers. The results of this survey are available on their website at:
	http://www.lge.gov.uk/lge/core/page.do?pageId=119009

Local Government and Regeneration Division

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 6 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2775W, on divisions, what  (a) working groups and  (b) committees there are within her Department's Local Government and Regeneration division.

Parmjit Dhanda: The formal governance of the Department is set out in the departmental annual report which is available in the Library of the House and on the Department's website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/annual-report07
	The Local Government and Regeneration Group monitors progress and performance through three programme boards: the Local Government Reform Programme Board; the Sub-National Review Implementation and Regeneration Programme Board; and the Community Empowerment Programme Board. The group also co-ordinates a number of smaller boards, working groups and committees which look at specific areas of policy.

Local Government Finance: Housing

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the housing revenue account subsidy entitlement for each local authority with housing was for  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08 in (i) percentage and (ii) cash terms; and for local authorities with negative subsidy what that negative subsidy was per property in each such year.

John Healey: A table showing the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) subsidy entitlement, both positive and negative, for each English local housing authority for 2006-2007 has been deposited in the Library of the House. No audited data is available for 2007-2008. Where HRA subsidy entitlement is positive, the table shows the percentage share each local housing authority got of the total positive HRA subsidy. Where HRA subsidy is negative, the table shows what the negative HRA subsidy is per dwelling.

Maps: Energy

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make a statement on the operation of the Ordnance Survey's Mapping for Energy service; and what funding has been allocated to it.

Parmjit Dhanda: Ordnance Survey has operated a Mapping for Emergencies Service since 1988 following the Lockerbie Bomb disaster. The service provides a 24 x 7 help-line through which designated authorities dealing with responses to a wide range of civil contingencies can request mapping and geographical information to support early response. The information is delivered free of charge to the requester either directly, or through members of Ordnance Survey's High Street network of specialist Mapping and Data Centres and Licensed Partner community. The information may be in digital or hard copy form. Some pre-processing, analysis or combination with other data may be undertaken to provide the Emergency Responders with information best suited to the needs of the situation they face.
	Recent examples of service provision include mapping to support management of exclusion zones for animal disease control, police operations in connection with the Ipswich murder cases, civil contingency operations connected with the beaching of the container vessel MSC Napoli, and in response to the summer flooding in the south-west midlands.
	From 1999, the costs of the service were funded through the National Interest Mapping Services Agreement (NIMSA). Since NIMSA ended in December 2006, Ordnance Survey has received no direct funding for the service, which has been supported from its general trading revenue.

Ordnance Survey: Cost Effectiveness

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what account was taken of the cost-benefit analysis commissioned from Cambridge University on trading funds when formulating Ordnance Survey's new public sector task;
	(2)  what account was taken of  (a) advice and  (b) guidance from (i) the Office of Public Sector Information and (ii) the Advisory Panel on Public Sector Information in formulating Ordnance Survey's new public sector task;
	(3)  what Government agencies and offices were consulted on the formulation of Ordnance Survey's public sector task.

Iain Wright: In April 2007, Ministers asked Ordnance Survey and the Shareholder Executive to work together to prepare a more precise articulation of Ordnance Survey's Public Task as set out in the Ordnance Survey Framework Document 2004. This work was undertaken between April and June 2007.
	Ministers approved the revised Public Task document in July 2007 before the Cambridge University study was commissioned. The Shareholder Executive conducted discussions with senior officials in Ordnance Survey and the Department for Communities and Local Government before submitting the Public Task document to Ministers. Neither the Office of Public Sector Information nor the Advisory Panel on Public Sector Information were consulted.

Planning Inspectorate: Appeals

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how long the Planning Inspectorate takes to  (a) register and  (b) process a planning appeal; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: The Planning Inspectorate receives about 2,000 appeals a month and aims to register these within three working days. As at 28 March 2008, some 1,530 new planning appeals had not been registered, the oldest of which were received on 29 February. The inspectorate is working hard to retrieve the situation and has introduced measures to allow it to direct more resources into eliminating the backlog. These have seen the number of appeals waiting to be registered fall from over 2000 in December 2007 to the present figure.
	Target handling times set by Ministers vary according to the nature and complexity of the planning appeal and the method used to process it. For example, in February, the average time taken following registration to decide appeals proceeding by the written representations method was 18 weeks. For appeals proceeding by hearing or inquiry method, it was 39 weeks. Further details of performance in relation to planning appeals can be found on the inspectorate website:
	http://www.planning-inspectorate.gov.uk/pins/appeals/planning_appeals/Planning_appeal_handling_times.htm

Planning Permission: Compensation

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was awarded in compensation to planning applications that were rejected but subsequently allowed on appeal in each of the last three years; and how much of this amount was paid to registered social landlords.

Iain Wright: Compensation is not payable for winning an appeal against refusal of planning permission. Parties can apply for an award of costs in planning appeals and applications are determined in accordance with longstanding Government guidance contained in DOE Circular 8/93. Awards are made only where one party is found to have acted unreasonably and as a result caused another to incur quantifiable unnecessary or wasted expense.
	The actual amount to be paid is not determined by a costs award. That is for the parties to settle by negotiation initially. Accordingly, no records are available of costs paid following awards on appeal in each of the last three years, whether or not involving social landlords.
	The following table shows by financial year, the number of local planning authorities being liable to pay costs following awards made against them by Inspectors and the Secretary of State:
	
		
			  Financial year  Number of local planning authorities liable  Approximate percentage of applications against authorities 
			 2004-05 338 34 
			 2005-06 304 39 
			 2006-07 362 38

Planning Permission: Floods

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many times she has called in a planning authority's decision to proceed with a development in a case where the Environment Agency objected to the development because of flood risk since April 2007;
	(2)  for what reasons she permitted developments to proceed in each of the cases referred to in the Environment Agency's Annual Report 2006-07 where the Agency objected to the developments on grounds of flood risk;
	(3)  for those cases where a development took place against an Environment Agency objection on grounds of flood risk between April 2006 and March 2007 if she will publish  (a) the Environment Agency objection and  (b) the final decision of the planning authority; and what further steps may be taken in such cases to encourage the planning authority to take greater account of the Agency's objection.

Iain Wright: The Secretary of State has called in four planning applications under the Town and Country Planning (Flooding) (England) Direction 2007, (the Direction). This requires local planning authorities to send details of all applications for major development they are minded to approve where the Environment Agency has an objection, to the Secretary of State to consider whether or not they should be called-in for decision. Since 2007, the Secretary of State has called-in a further four planning applications, not under the Direction, where flooding was a main issue.
	The 13 cases referred to in the Environment Agency's HLT5 Report 2006-07, were granted planning permission by the respective local planning authorities before the Direction came into force. The Environment Agency's objections to those applications are tabled as follows.
	The Direction requires that where a local planning authority wants to grant planning permission for a major development to which the Environment Agency objects, the authority and the Agency must discuss and agree a course of action which would allow the Agency's objection to be withdrawn. Such discussions are proving fruitful in resolving flood risk issues, and have allowed most of the planning applications referred to the Secretary of State, to be returned to the local planning authorities for decision.
	
		
			  Details of the high level target 5 (HLT5) 2006-07: 13 major development proposals granted planning permission contrary to  Environment Agency concerns 
			  Local planning authority  Nature of development  Flood zone  Reason for Environment Agency objection 
			 North Lincolnshire Council Barton upon Humber. Proposed tipping of cement kiln dust and inert factory waste above existing approved levels. 3 The proposal involved significant land raising within the floodplain. Environment Agency objected as no Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) had been submitted, and was concerned about possible increased flood risk to third parties. Extensive consultation with the LPA, but LPA knowingly overruled Environment Agency advice on the grounds that the proposal would have other environmental improvements. 
			 West Lindsey District Council Gainsborough. Erection of 38 residential units. 3 The Environment Agency objected to the application on grounds that the site is within Flood Zone 3 'high risk' and no Flood Risk Assessment had been submitted with the application. A FRA was subsequently submitted; however the Environment Agency maintained its earlier objection on the grounds that the FRA had not considered the flood risk posed by a breach in the banks of the nearby River Trent. However, the Environment Agency did not object to the allocation of the site in the (now adopted) Local Plan, and the site benefits from an extant planning permission. The LPA considered it unreasonable to refuse the application, given the earlier approval and the Local Plan status. 
			 East Lindsey District Council Mablethorpe. Proposed development of 10 single storey dwellings (bungalows). 3 The Environment Agency objected on the basis that the site is located within Flood Zone 3 'high risk', and the LPA's own adopted catchment-wide flood risk assessment showed the site could flood to depths between 1-1.5 m in the event of a breach in the raised sea defences. The Environment Agency therefore considered the site inappropriate for single storey development. Site already has an extant planning permission for a similar proposal before the LPA's own flood risk assessment had been prepared. Despite the flood risk, the LPA considered it unreasonable to refuse the new application, given the earlier approval. 
			 East Lindsey District Council Chapel St. Leonards. Erection of 18 dwellings, estate roads and vehicular/pedestrian access. 3 The Environment Agency objected on that basis that the site is located within Flood Zone 3 'high risk', and the LPA's own adopted catchment-wide flood risk assessment showed that the site could flood to depths greater than 2 m in the event of a breach in the raised sea defences. The assessment identifies the site as being within the 'critical velocity zone'the highest subdivision of risk as set out in the assessment. Given the predicted speed/depths of floodwater and the risk to life and property, the Environment Agency advised the LPA that residential development was generally not suitable in this area and objected. However, the site had an extant planning permission dating back to 1994, prior to the consideration of flood risk, and the LPA granted planning permission on the basis that this application represented a betterment in flood risk terms compared with that 1994 permission. 
			 East Lindsey District Council Chapel St. Leonards. Change of use of agricultural land to 71 pitch touring caravan site. 3 The Environment Agency objected on the basis that the site is located within Flood Zone 3 'high risk', and the LPA's own adopted catchment-wide flood risk assessment showed that the site could flood to depths of between 1 and 2 m in the event of a breach in the raised sea defences. The assessment identifies the site as being within the 'Rapid Inundation Zone'where flood waters are greater than 0.5 m and/or have a velocity of greater than 1 m/second. Given the predicted speed/depths of floodwater and the risk to life and property, the Environment Agency advised the LPA that it could not support an application for a new caravan site in such flood depth zones, and objected. The LPA accepted the dangers, but overruled the objection on the grounds of overriding tourism and economic benefits. 
			 Plymouth City Council Plymouth. Temporary permission for the provision of motor cycle speedway track and ancillary accommodation and facilities. 3 The Environment Agency objected as the site lies within Flood Zone 3 'High Risk', and yet no Flood Risk Assessment was submitted with the planning application as required by Government guidance PPG25. The LPA approved the application without re-consulting the Environment Agency, as a proposal on the same site had been upheld at appeal in 1998, when an Inspector found that 'no demonstrable harm' would result from that development, although in that case the site was to have been raised (hence appropriately defended). This appeal decision predates Government policy on development and flood risk, and the need for FRAs. A permanent permission application has subsequently been submitted and approved. A FRA was submitted with this application allowing the Environment Agency to remove its objection. 
			 Mid Suffolk District Council Stowmarket. Construction of a new access road incorporating new junction arrangements and bridge with ancillary works. 3 The Environment Agency objected as development might lead to a loss of flood storage capacity, and the Flood Risk Assessment submitted was unsatisfactory as it was for a different site to the actual proposal. From the information submitted it was not clear whether the bridge proposal would impede flood flows by encroaching into FZ3. Although the Environment Agency responded late to this consultation, our response was in time to influence the decision. Delegated decision, so our concerns were not reported to committee. 
			 Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council Doncaster. Factory/warehouse extension. 2/3 The application site fell partly within flood zones 2 and 3. Although the LPA received a Flood Risk Assessment from the developers to accompany the planning application, the Environment Agency never received this. The Environment Agency therefore objected on the grounds that no FRA had been prepared to accompany the application, in accordance with PPG25. Our objection was not reported upon in processing the planning application. As a result, the fact that the FRA had never been received was not picked up, and the Environment Agency's objection was never recorded. 
			 Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council West Bromwich. Two new distribution/industrial units with associated service yards and car parking. 1 The objection relates only to surface water run off risk, not development in a high risk flood zone. Due to the size of this application ( 2 Ha), the Environment Agency objected on the ground that no Flood Risk Assessment had been submitted, and the surface water runoff could increase the flood risk to others. The LPA consulted the Environment Agency late, and our response was never reported to committee as the application was determined before it was received. A condition was attached to the planning permission requiring a FRA to be carried out retrospectively before the development commences. 
			 Stafford Borough Council Stafford. Development of an automotive complex. 1 The objection relates only to surface water run off risk, not development in a high risk flood zone. The application site lay within a longstanding employment site under development at the time of the application. Due to the size of this application ( 4 Ha), the Environment Agency objected on the ground that no Flood Risk Assessment had been submitted, as required under PPG25, and the surface water runoff could increase the flood risk to others. Environment Agency concerns were reported to committee, and the committee report acknowledges that the application should be decided in accordance with latest Government policy on flood risk and development. The committee however approved the application. 
			 London Borough of Barnet Barnet. Outline application for 23 houses and 78 flats. 1 The objection relates only to surface water run off, not development in a high risk flood zone. The Environment Agency objected on the ground that due to its size, the application might present a significant flood risk to others from the generation of surface water run-off, and therefore required a Flood Risk Assessment, as per Government guidance. The LPA approved the proposal without requesting a FRA from the developer, or re-consulting the Environment Agency. The LPA included a condition on the planning permission requiring the developer to retrospectively carry out a FRA before development commences. 
			 Swindon Borough Council Swindon. Redevelopment of former railway works for hotel, offices, retail, 211 apartments and ancillary uses. 1 Although this site lies within flood zone 1, due to the size of the site (3.4 Ha) and the nature of the development proposal, the Environment Agency was concerned that the application might present a significant flood risk to others from the generation of surface water run-off. The applicant was required therefore to provide a Flood Risk Assessment to accompany the application, as per Government guidance. Initially the Environment Agency requested further information about whether a FRA had been carried out, and requested an extension to the consultation period. There is no record of any extension being agreed, and the Environment Agency finally submitted a late response (June 2006) objecting to the proposal on the ground that no FRA had been submitted. The LPA did not approve the proposal until February 2007. Environment Agency concerns were not reported to committee. 
			 West Berkshire District Council Hungerford. Erection of 36 residential units with associated car parking. 1 An Outline Planning Permission was granted in 2005 for 16 dwellings, which the Environment Agency provided comments on in 2002. As the site lies within Flood Zone 1 the Environment Agency requested a surface water condition, which was applied to the extant permission. A subsequent planning application was submitted for 36 residential units in 2006. Although the applicant provided a Flood Risk Assessment in accordance with Government guidance, the Environment Agency objected as it was not satisfied with the surface water drainage strategy submitted as part of the FRA. The development could present a flood risk to others by generating surface water run-off. The Environment Agency's objection was reported to the Planning Committee in August 2006. The objection was not resolved before planning permission was granted. The Council applied a condition requiring full details of the surface water drainage system to be submitted before development commenced on the site. Despite ongoing negotiations the proposed surface water drainage system still does not meet Environment Agency requirements.

Rackspace

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the value was of each contract awarded to Rackspace by  (a) her Department and its predecessors and  (b) its agencies in each of the last nine years.

Parmjit Dhanda: No contracts have been awarded to Rackspace by the Department or its predecessor, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, which was formed in May 2002.
	No contracts have been awarded to Rackspace by the Department's agencies.

Railways: Accidents

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) railway and  (b) aircraft accidents were attended by fire and rescue services in each fire authority area in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Parmjit Dhanda: The requested information has been deposited in the Library of the House.

Regional Government: Ministers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Taunton of 10 March 2008,  Official Report, column 65W, on regional government: Ministers, what the  (a) date and  (b) purpose was of each visit listed.

Parmjit Dhanda: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) on 11 March 2008,  Official Report, column 236W. Providing further details of meetings would incur disproportionate costs.

Regional Government: Ministers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what criteria each regional Minister uses to decide whether to visit areas in their region.

Parmjit Dhanda: In addition to the normal criteria applied to ministerial invitations, Regional Ministers also consider how each invitation relates to their role as outlined in the Governance of Britain Green Paper to be a visible presence in, and provide a clear strategic direction for, the region by:
	representing their region's interests in the formulation of central Government policy relevant to economic growth and sustainable development in areas that have not been devolved to the RDAs;
	facilitating a joined up approach across government to enable the effective delivery of the single regional strategy; and
	championing the region via high profile projects and high level events.

Regional Planning and Development

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the process is for  (a) the Secretary of State and  (b) the relevant Government office for the region to approve each local development framework.

Iain Wright: The provisions for approving each development plan document in the framework are set out in the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act (2004) and the accompanying Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) Regulations (2004). Each local authority is required to submit to the Secretary of State the development plan document they propose to adopt, which is then subject to an independent examination by a Planning Inspector, appointed by the Secretary of State. There will be a hearing into the 'soundness' of the plan, where any person who has requested to be heard may appear before the Inspector. The Inspector must consider all representations received on the plan, and will then issue a report, the recommendations of which are binding on the local authority. If the Inspector recommends the plan is sound, it must then be adopted by the local authority.

Roads: Accidents

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many road accidents the Fire and Rescue Service attended in each fire authority area in each year since 1994; and how many people were rescued by the Fire Service from their vehicles in each year.

Parmjit Dhanda: Available information, for the period 1995 to 2006, has been deposited in the Library of the House.
	This information includes the number of incidents where people were extricated from vehicles. Information on the number of people rescued from these incidences is not held centrally.

Roads: Accidents

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many road accidents involving the rescue of a person or persons were carried out in each fire authority area in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Parmjit Dhanda: The requested information has been deposited in the Library of the House.

Slavery: Anniversaries

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 7 November 2006,  Official Report, column 1007W, to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside, on the slave trade, what funding was allocated to  (a) local authorities and  (b) local communities or organisations to provide for the commemoration of the abolition of the Slave Trade Act; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: Throughout 2007 the Government worked closely with stakeholders from local authorities, the media, faith groups and the voluntary and community sectors to galvanise activity to mark the 2007 Bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act. The Government's approach was not to direct, organise or control commemorations, but to encourage and empower grassroots organisations, local authorities, faith groups and national organisations to mark the bicentenary in a way that was appropriate to their communities.
	Heritage Lottery Fund provided funding to support heritage and commemorative projects. In total Heritage Lottery Fund awarded over 15 million to more than 180 projects across the country related to the bicentenary and the slave trade. The funding was provided to a range of organisations including local authorities, community organisations, voluntary groups and cultural bodies. Many of the awards were to Black Voluntary and Community Sector groups. Information on the precise breakdown of the Heritage Lottery funding awarded to local authorities and community organisations is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department for Communities and Local Government also provided funding to support bicentenary-related projects under its Connecting Communities Plus Grants Programme. This funding was exclusively for community organisationsoverall 41 organisations received a total of 364,825.92 for bicentenary-related projects.
	The Government want to ensure that we continue to mark this important part of our history, therefore their announced on 13 December 2007 that they will, in future, adopt the 23 Augustthe UNESCO day for the International Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolitionas the focal date for national commemorations. Community groups will be able to apply to the Heritage Lottery Fund for support for heritage projects linked to commemoration and will also be able to apply to the Big Lottery Fund and Arts Council England.

Supporting People Programme: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been paid to local authorities in Essex under her Department's Supporting People budget; and what proportion of this was spent on people with learning disabilities in each of the last four years.

Iain Wright: The Supporting People programme is administered at the local level by the relevant administering authority. It is for the authority to decide which services to fund, informed by the local needs and priorities identified in their five year Supporting People Strategies. The following table sets out the amount allocated to Essex county council and the proportion of each year's allocation that funded Supporting People services for people with a learning disability (as reported to the Department by the authority). It will not identify all funding spent on people with a learning disability who access Supporting People services: some may have a different service classification (for example, people with a learning disability may access support from Supporting People services that help them move on from domestic violence or homelessness).
	
		
			   Essex county council total supporting people allocation  ()  Proportion of each year's allocation reported as spent on services for people with a learning disability (Percentage) 
			 2004-05 31,742,850 31.0 
			 2005-06 30,144,101 32.9 
			 2006-07 29,622,839 26.6 
		
	
	Information for 2007-08 is not yet available.

Supporting People Programme: Gloucestershire

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been paid to local authorities in Gloucestershire under her Department's Supporting People budget for each of the last three years.

Iain Wright: Supporting People funding is paid to upper-tier local authorities. In the county of Gloucestershire, this includes Gloucestershire county council and South Gloucestershire council. Authorities receive two separate funding streams related to Supporting Peoplethe Supporting People Programme Grant and the Supporting People Administration Grant, which is paid towards an authority's costs in administering the programme. Details of the relevant allocations for the last three years are set out in the following tables.
	
		
			  Gloucestershire county council 
			   
			   Supporting People  Programme Grant allocation  Supporting People Administration Grant allocation 
			 2005-06 25,769,741 353,014 
			 2006-07 25,135,925 353,014 
			 2007-08 24,633,207 353,014 
		
	
	
		
			  South Gloucestershire council 
			 
			   Supporting PeopleProgramme Grant allocation  Supporting PeopleAdministration Grant allocation 
			 2005-06 4,764,505 150,177 
			 2006-07 4,682,116 150,177 
			 2007-08 4,674,886 150,177

Supporting People Programme: Leicestershire

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding her Department has allocated to Leicestershire County Council for the Supporting People programme in each of the last three financial years.

Iain Wright: Authorities receive two separate funding streams related to Supporting Peoplethe Supporting People Programme Grant and the Supporting People Administration Grant, which is paid towards an authority's costs in administering the programme. Details of the allocations for the last three years are set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Leicestershire county council 
			   
			   Supporting People Programme Grant allocation  Supporting People Administration Grant allocation 
			 2005-06 6,807,853 351,726 
			 2006-07 6,690,129 351,726 
			 2007-08 7,012,300 351,726

Tenants' and Residents' Association of England: Conferences

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what funding her Department provided for the Tenants' and Residents' Association of England's conference in Liverpool on Saturday 15 March.

Iain Wright: TAROE received a grant of 25,000 from the Department's Tenant Empowerment programme for their second annual conference which was held in Liverpool on 15 March 2008.

Travelling People: Shipton-on-Stour

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what  (a) representations her Department has received from and  (b) discussions her Department has had with Stratford-on-Avon district council on the unauthorised development of a Traveller camp at Darlingscott, near Shipton-on-Stour in the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: I cannot comment on the merits of any planning application or enforcement action that might be taken by the local authority given the quasi-judicial role of the Secretary of State. No formal representations have been received by the Department on the camp at Darlingscott. Officials from Stratford-on-Avon district council have provided a brief update to officials in my Department on the action the council has taken, but it is for local authorities to decide whether to enforce against breaches of development control.

Waste Management: Gloucestershire

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions Gloucestershire County Council has had with her Department on its proposals for Javelin Park, off Junction 12 of the M5, to situate a major waste facility there.

Iain Wright: Gloucestershire county council has recently resolved to acquire land at Javelin park. The council is preparing its waste core strategy and officials at Government office for the south west have discussed the strategy with council officers. However, these discussions did not specifically cover any proposals for Javelin park

Wind Power: Planning Permission

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities have made objections to new or expanded wind farms during the formal planning process in the last 12 months.

Iain Wright: Records for objections made by local authorities on applications made under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and determined by local planning authorities are not held centrally. No authorities in England have objected to applications which have been called-in or recovered by the Secretary of State. The Planning Inspectorate do not hold this information in the form requested in relation to appeals.
	In respect of applications in England made under s36 of the Electricity Act 1989, the following authorities have objected to applications:
	Tynedale district council objected to the Steadings wind farm on 23 May 2007 (and again on 17 October 2007 following revisions to the proposal).
	Tynedale district council objected to the Ray wind farm on 21 March 2007.
	Norfolk county council objected to the proposed Lincolnshire Offshore Wind Farm on 28 March 2007.

HEALTH

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated by his Department on the reasons for repeat abortions; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: No specific research has been commissioned or evaluated on the reasons for repeat abortions to date. The Department recently announced 26.8 million funding for 2008-09 to improve access to contraception, and some of this funding will be used to improve care pathways between abortion and contraceptive services to reduce repeat abortions.

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions have been performed in each licensed abortion clinic since each was licensed.

Dawn Primarolo: Data on the place of termination has been withheld in order to protect individuals' confidentiality. This is in line with the Office for National Statistics' guidance on the disclosure of abortion statistics, 2005.

Abortion

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the abortion rates were among people aged under  (a) 18 and  (b) 16 years in each of the last five years, broken down by region.

Dawn Primarolo: The data are shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Abortion rates( 1)  for women age under 16 and under 18 by region of residence, 2002-06 
			   2002  2003  2004 
			   Rate per 1,000 women  Rate per 1,000 women  Rate per 1,000 women 
			  Region (strategic health authority (SHA)) 2002-2005  Under 16  Under 18  Under 16  Under 18  Under 16  Under 18 
			 East 3 15 3 15 3 14 
			 East Midlands 3 15 3 16 4 17 
			 London 5 28 6 29 5 27 
			 North East 5 18 5 20 5 20 
			 North West 4 17 4 18 4 18 
			 South East 3 15 3 15 3 16 
			 South West 3 15 3 15 3 15 
			 West Midlands 4 18 4 19 4 18 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 4 17 4 17 4 18 
			
			 Wales 4 16 4 17 3 16 
			
			 England and Wales 3.7 17.8 3.9 18.3 3.7 17.8 
		
	
	
		
			   2005  2006 
			   Rates per 1,000 women  Rates per 1,000 women 
			  Region (SHA) 2006  Under 16  Under 18  Under 16  Under 18 
			 East Midlands   3 16 
			 East of England 3 15 3 15 
			 London 3 16 5 24 
			 North East 5 25 5 18 
			 North West 4 18 4 19 
			 South Central 4 18 3 15 
			 South East Coast 3 16 3 16 
			 South West 3 15 3 15 
			 West Midlands 4 19 4 20 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 4 17 5 19 
			  
			 Wales 3 15 4 17 
			  
			 England and Wales 3.7 17.8 3.9 18.2 
			 (1) Rates for ages under 16 and under 18 are based on populations 13-15 and 15-17 respectively.

Abortion: Gloucestershire

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions have been performed in Gloucestershire in each year since 1990.

Dawn Primarolo: Data for abortions performed in Gloucestershire are not available. Data for abortions for women resident in Gloucestershire are shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Abortions to residents of Gloucestershire( 1) , 1990 to 2006 
			  District health authorities (DHA) 1990 to 1991, Gloucester DHA 
			   Total 
			 1990 823 
			 1991 850 
		
	
	
		
			  District health authorities (DHA) 1992 to 1998, Gloucestershire DHA 
			   Total 
			 1992 1,413 
			 1993 1,361 
			 1994 1,326 
			 1995 1,367 
			 1996 1,497 
			 1997 1,412 
			 1998 1,505 
		
	
	
		
			  Health Authority (HA) 1999 to 2001, Gloucestershire HA 
			   Total 
			 1999 1,435 
			 2000 1,372 
			 2001 1,452 
		
	
	
		
			  Primary care trust (PCT) 2002 to 2005 
			   Cheltenham and Tewkesbury  Cotswold and Vale  Gloucestershire  Total 
			 2002 393 374 630 1,397 
			 2003 446 380 648 1,474 
			 2004 457 434 676 1,567 
			 2005 419 343 699 1,461 
		
	
	
		
			  Primary care trust (PCT), 2006 
			   Gloucestershire  Total 
			 2006 1,534 1,534 
			 (1) Boundaries for Gloucestershire changed in 2002, 1999, 2002 and 2006 and totals cannot be compared between groups.  Source: Department of Health.

AIDS: Finance

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of treating an AIDS patient  (a) in hospital and  (b) as an out-patient.

Dawn Primarolo: The data are not held centrally in the format requested. Costs of treating people with HIV vary depending on the severity of symptoms and level of immune suppression. Estimated annual costs of HIV treatment, including the costs of combination antiretroviral therapies range between 12,000 to 19,000 per person. Treatment is lifelong. Total national health service expenditure on HIV treatment in 2006-07 was 497 million. This was the first year this data has been collected since HIV treatment and care budgets were placed into NHS baselines in 2002-03.

Alcoholic Drinks: Accident and Emergency Departments

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the demands on accident and emergency services of each NHS acute hospital trust arising from alcohol consumption; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government recently assessed alcohol-related demands on accident and emergency (A and E) departments, as part of the evaluation of the impact of the Licensing Act 2003.
	The evaluation showed that alcohol-related demands on A and E services appear to have been stable in aggregate, though some individual hospitals have seen increased demands, others a fall.
	Information about alcohol-related visits to A and E services is not collected centrally.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce screening of all patients in primary and secondary care for alcohol misuse.

Dawn Primarolo: Our policy is not to adopt a universal screening programme for alcohol misuse, as the evidence base indicates this would not be cost-effective. Instead, we are encouraging health care professionals and others to implement opportunistic alcohol case identification and to deliver brief advice about alcohol. This can take place at any opportunity when an individual is consulting with a health care professional or indeed any agency about a health issue, which may have a link to excessive alcohol consumption.
	International research has shown that this approach works well in primary care. We believe these results would be replicated in some targeted clinics within secondary care, such as genito-urinary medicine, fracture clinics or facial injury clinics.
	While there is good evidence confirming the value of this approach, there are some gaps in the research. This is why the Department has commissioned a programme of research into opportunistic alcohol case identification and delivering brief advice that is now under way in a selection of general practitioner (GP) practices, accident and emergency departments and probation departments. The purpose of this research is to refine which identification tool works best in which setting, with which target groups, and what methods of providing advice are most effective.
	We have put in place from April 2008, a new national health service indicator to measure the change in the rate of hospital admissions for alcohol-related harmthe first ever national commitment to monitor how the NHS is tackling alcohol health harms. This indicator is expected to encourage primary care trusts to invest in earlier identification of people who drink too much linked to advice and support from GPs or other health care staff. This has been shown to be the best way of reducing the kind of 'everyday' drinking which over time leads to liver disease and other problems.

Aortic Aneurysm

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many patients were treated for abdominal aortic aneurysms through  (a) endovascular aneurysm repair using a stent graph and  (b) open surgical repair in the NHS (i) in England and Wales and (ii) broken down by strategic health authority in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many patients were treated for thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections through  (a) endovascular aneurysm repair using a stent graph and  (b) open surgical repair in the NHS (i) in England and Wales and (ii) broken down by strategic health authority in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: This information is not available in the format requested. Using clinical codes, it is not possible to identify endovascular aortic aneurysm repair using a stent graft. Furthermore, in order to adhere to patient confidentiality, incidences of treatment between one and five are suppressed, which is why to break these results down by strategic health authority (SHA) would be infeasible. Data on patients in Wales is not held centrally.
	The following table shows the count of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) with a primary diagnosis of aortic aneurysm, broken down by abdominal and thoracic, and a main or secondary procedure of open surgical repair of aortic aneurysm from 2002-03 to 2006-07, which are the latest figures available, in national health service hospitals in England.
	
		
			   Thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections  Abdominal aortic aneurysm  Aortic aneurysm that crosses both the thoracic and abdominal areas 
			 2006-07 408 4,516 65 
			 2005-06 375 5,017 77 
			 2004-05 375 4,858 65 
			 2003-04 306 4,871 62 
			 2002-03 300 4,718 68 
			  Notes:  1. FCE:  A FCE is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. The figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year.  2. Data quality:  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are compiled from data sent by over 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. The Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  3. Assessing growth through time:  HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. During the years that these records have been collected by the NHS, there have been ongoing improvements in quality and coverage. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series.  Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example a number of procedures may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and may no longer be accounted in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.  4. Diagnosis (primary diagnosis):  The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the HES data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.  5. Ungrossed data:  Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).  6. Main operation:  The main operation is the first recorded operation in the HES data set and is usually the most resource intensive procedure performed during the episode. It is appropriate to use main operation when looking at admission details, e.g. time waited, but the figures for 'all operations count of episodes' give a more complete count of episodes with an operation.  7. Secondary procedure:  As well as the main operative procedure, there are up to 11 (three prior to 2002-03) secondary operation fields in HES that show secondary or additional procedures performed on the patient during the episode of care.  Source:  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The Information Centre for Health and Social Care.

Bone Diseases

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of new diagnoses of ankylosing spondylitis in England in each year.

Ann Keen: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence have estimated that there are around 2,300 new cases of ankylosing spondylitis each year in England and Wales.

Bone Diseases: Research

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on research into treatment of ankylosing spondylitis in each year since 1997; and what percentage of his Department's budget for research and development activity this constituted in each year.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not available.
	Over the last 10 years, the main part of the Department's total expenditure on health research has been devolved to and managed by national health service organisations. Details of individual NHS supported research projects undertaken during that time are available on the archived national research register at:
	https://portal.nihr.ac.uk/Pages/NRRArchiveSearch.aspx
	Implementation of the Department's research strategy 'Best Research for Best Health' has led to an expansion of our research programmes and in significant new funding opportunities for health research. A copy of the research strategy is available in the Library. Work relevant to musculoskeletal function will be undertaken in several of the National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centres (BRC). For example, the Cambridge BRC has a musculoskeletal disorders research theme to which 2.2 million has been allocated over five years; and the Newcastle BRC has a musculoskeletal disorders research theme for which 0.3 million has been allocated over five years.
	The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government supports biomedical research. The MRC is an independent body funded by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.
	The MRC has funded and continues to fund research into understanding the pathophysiology of ankylosing spondylitis in search of possible new therapeutic approaches. MRC's spend in this area since 1997 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   000 
			 1997-98 26 
			 1998-99 26 
			 1999-2000 38 
			 2000-01 157 
			 2001-02 210 
			 2002-03 234 
			 2003-04 140 
			 2004-05 261 
			 2005-06 138 
			 2006-07 166 
		
	
	In addition, the MRC funds a large portfolio of research on arthritis, rheumatism and mechanisms of inflammation which will have relevance to our understanding of ankylosing spondylitis and its possible treatment. Available MRC expenditure figures for research relevant to arthritis and rheumatism are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Expenditure ( million) 
			 1999-2000 4.8 
			 2000-01 3.9 
			 2001-02 4.2 
			 2002-03 6.8 
			 2003-04 6.8 
			 2004-05 5.0 
			 2005-06 5.5 
			 2006-07 5.8

Brain Cancer: Medical Treatments

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will instruct the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to investigate the comparative effectiveness of treatment for brain cancer in the UK and other EU member states.

Dawn Primarolo: We have no plans to instruct the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to investigate this issue.
	As the Cancer Reform Strategy is implemented across the national health service, the Department will track the progress of other countries on issues such as survival and mortality, awareness, early detection, access to different forms of treatment, clinical outcomes, patient experience and costs across all cancers.

Chlamydia: Screening

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of screens for chlamydia undertaken in  (a) 2003-04,  (b) 2004-05,  (c) 2005-06 and  (d) 2006-07 were (i) offered to and (ii) accepted by (A) men and (B) women.

Dawn Primarolo: Data for the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) records numbers of screens accepted not the numbers of screens offered. The data on proportion of screens accepted are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Proportion of males and females screened for  Chlamydia  as part of the NCSP: 2003-07 
			   Proportion Male  ( percentage )  Proportion Female  ( percentage )  Total( 1) 
			 2003-04 7 93 17,391 
			 2004-05 13 87 63,303 
			 2005-06 18 82 112,714 
			 2006-07 21 79 162,961 
			 Overall 18 82 356,369 
			 (1)( )Total number screened excluding screens with sex marked as unknown and unspecified.  Notes:  1. The data from the NCSP are for screens outside of GUM clinics only and include screens from the Boots pathfinder project. 2. The data available from the NCSP are the number of screens undertaken and not the number of patients screened. The number of screens is assumed to be a close proxy of the number of people screened. 3. The data include those aged 13-24 years. 4. The NCSP began screening on 1 April 2003 and so data are only available from that date onwards. 5. The data is specific to the financial year 1 April-31 March: 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06. For 2006-07, data as of 27 February 2008.  Source:  The NSCP

Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to consult patient and service user organisations on the skills, competences and experience required of future  (a) lay and  (b) professional members of the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence.

Ben Bradshaw: It is our intention that appointments made to the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE) by the Secretary of State will be devolved to the Appointments Commission who will work with CHRE on the precise process. We understand that CHRE intends to seek the views, as appropriate, of patient and service user organisations on the attributes for council members. They will also be able to draw on the recommendations made by Niall Dickson in his report 'Enhancing Confidence in Healthcare Professional Regulation', which we intend to publish soon. All the appointments to the new council for CHRE will be public members (it will not be possible for a health professional or ex-health professional to be appointed).

Dental Services: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Peterborough Primary Care Trust has undertaken a needs assessment of children's orthodontics within its boundaries; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: This requested information is not held centrally.
	Primary care trusts (PCTs) are responsible for providing or commissioning primary dental care services, including orthodontic services, to reflect local needs. This is a local rather than centrally managed process. The Department has issued guidance to the local national health service on developing local dental commissioning plans. Additional support is available through the national primary care contracting team.
	Increasing the number of patients seen within NHS dental service as a whole is now a formal priority in the NHS Operating Framework for 2008-09. The Department has supported this with a substantial 11 per cent. uplift in overall allocations to PCTs from 1 April 2008.

Departmental Advertising

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which of his Department's initiatives have been advertised to the public in each of the last 10 years; and what the cost of each such campaign was.

Ben Bradshaw: The following table outlines cost of departmental public health awareness campaign advertising in each year since 1997.
	
		
			   million 
			  Campaign  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Alcohol (from 2006-07, DH contribution to campaign run jointly with HO) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.10 0.05 0.34 0.06 1.90 
			 Antibiotics 0.00 0.00 0.91 0.00 0.44 0.44 0.42 0.00 0.39 0.00 
			 Blood donation 0.60 1.70 0.22 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Carbon Monoxide Awareness 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 
			 CALM 0.00 0.00 0.53 0.00 0.00 0.58 0.43 0.44 0.32 0.00 
			 Child Immunisation 0.62 0.86 2.62 0.94 1.05 1.01 2.07 0.05 0.03 1.97 
			 Children's health/pregnancy 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.05 0.40 0.00 0.00 
			 Drugs (DH contribution to campaign run jointly with HO) 0.00 0.00 0.53 0.50 0.00 1.52 1.50 1.99 1.26 3.13 
			 Flu 0.23 0.28 0.08 2.02 1.45 2.00 1.60 1.50 1.85 1.16 
			 Hepatitis C 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.15 0.70 1.28 0.53 
			 Immunisation 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.67 1.00 2.00 2.00 0.35 2.80 
			 Mind Out/Mental Health 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.13 0.16 0.95 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Maternal and Infant Nutrition/Breastfeeding 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.28 0.46 0.75 0.74 0.73 
			 National Health Service including nurse recruitment 1.30 4.90 4.21 4.90 5.00 4.23 4.90 5.84 0.23 0.00 
			 NHS Direct 0.12 0.78 1.24 0.21 1.08 0.58 0.75 0.00 0.00^ 0.32 
			 Organ donation 0.02 0.77 0.47 0.43 0.18 0.22 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Pandemic Flu Preparedness (Standby Materials) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.57 
			 Prescription fraud 0.00 0.38 0.00 1.35 0.00 0.30 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Promoting new NHS services (Caring in many ways) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.85 0.69 0.00 
			 Teenage Pregnancy (from 2005-06 DH contribution to campaign run jointly with DCSF) 0.00 0.00 0.39 0.00 2.00 1.60 2.00 0.77 2.00 2.00 
			 Sexual Health 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.30 2.00 2.00 2.00 0.82 7.30 
			 Social care/worker recruitment 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.83 1.24 4.62 2.14 2.44 2.69 
			 Smoking 0.00 0.00 6.18 8.97 7.79 7.87 17.34 24.00 22.70 21.53 
			 TB awareness 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.30 0.09 0.01 0.20 0.00 0.00 
			 Walk-in centres 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.37 0.02 0.14 0.04 0.40 0.00 0.00 
			 Winter (Get the right treatment/ask about medicines day 0.00 0.00 1.02 2.03 0.16 0.50 1.87 0.99 0.98 0.00 
			 5 a Day 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.50 0.48 1.03 0.90 0.92 
			 E111 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.32 1.37 0.00

Departmental Expenditure

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will break down, by sub-head in  (a) near cash and  (b) non-cash terms his Department's (i) gross resource outturn, (ii) operating appropriations in aid outturn, (iii) gross capital outturn and (iv) non-operating appropriations in aid outturn for financial years 2001-02 to 2006-07.

Ben Bradshaw: The figures for final and provisional outturns are published each year in Public Expenditure Outturn White Papers (PEOWP), which are available in the Library. The paper references are:
	
		
			  PEOWP  Reference 
			 2001-02 CM5574 
			 2002-03 CM5884 
			 2003-04 CM6293 
			 2004-05 CM6639 
			 2005-06 CM6883 
			 2006-07 CM7156 
		
	
	The differences between provisional and final outturns are published in Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA) papers, which are available in the Library. The paper references are:
	
		
			  PESA  Reference 
			 2002 CM4602 to CM4621 
			 2003 CM5901 
			 2004 CM6201 
			 2005 CM6521 
			 2006 CM6811 
			 2007 CM7091

Departmental Sustainable Development

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department plans to publish its sustainable operations policy statement.

Ivan Lewis: The Department publishes its sustainable operations commitments as part of its Sustainable Development Action Plan. We also report annually to the Sustainable Development Commission on our progress against the Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate (SOGE) targets. The results of the latest SOGE exercise have recently been published, and we were in first place overall.

Disease Control

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued on the appointment of authorised persons to inspect  (a) central sterile stores and  (b) management of infection control.

Ann Keen: The Department has issued guidance on the management and environment for the decontamination of reusable medical devices in Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 01-01): Decontamination of reusable medical devices. Part A of HTM 01-01 identifies the functional responsibilities including 'Authorised Persons (Decontamination)' to ensure equipment is operated safely and efficiently. A copy of HTM 01-01 Part A has been placed in the Library.
	The role of the Director of Infection Prevention and Control (DIPC) was first set out in Winning Waysworking together to reduce healthcare associated infection in England a report by the Chief Medical Officer which was published in December 2003. A copy of this publication is available in the Library. Guidance on competences for DIPCs was issued in May 2004.

Drugs: Babies

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children were born with drug-dependency problems in each of the last five years, broken down by  (a) region and  (b) type of drug.

Dawn Primarolo: The following tables show the number of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) where the primary or secondary diagnosis was either neonatal withdrawal symptoms from maternal use of drugs addiction or withdrawal symptoms from therapeutic use of drugs in newborn. Information is provided for the years 2002-03 to 2006-07, which is the latest data available, broken down by strategic health authority (SHA) of residence. It is not possible to provide information for what type of drug a newborn baby is addicted to.
	
		
			  Count of cases (FCEs) with a primary or secondary diagnosis of neonatal withdrawal symptoms from maternal use of drugs by SHA of residence for the period 2006-07 
			  SHA of Residence  Total finished consultant birth episodes 
			 North East SHA 52 
			 North West SHA 100 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber SHA 163 
			 East Midlands SHA 64 
			 West Midlands SHA 82 
			 East of England SHA 95 
			 London SHA 66 
			 South East Coast SHA 40 
			 South Central SHA 20 
			 South West SHA 60 
			 Other and unknown 469 
			 Total 1,211 
		
	
	
		
			  Count of cases (finished consultant birth episodes) with a primary or secondary diagnosis of neonatal withdrawal symptoms from maternal use of drugs by SHA of residence for the period 2002-03 to 2005-06 
			  Total finished consultant birth episodes 
			  SHA of Residence  2005-06  2004-05  2003-04  2002-03 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire SHA * * * * 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire SHA 12 16 10 0 
			 Essex SHA 0 8 * * 
			 North West London SHA 11 11 11 8 
			 North Central London SHA 12 13 * * 
			 North East London SHA * 0 * 0 
			 South East London SHA * * * 8 
			 South West London SHA * 0 * 0 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear SHA 6 * * * 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley SHA 17 30 40 28 
			 North  East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire SHA 23 27 45 45 
			 West Yorkshire SHA 13 11 27 17 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire SHA 7 13 16 33 
			 Greater Manchester SHA 10 8 11 39 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside SHA 54 63 40 38 
			 Thames Valley SHA 7 * * * 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight SHA * 9 7 * 
			 Kent and Medway SHA 0 * * * 
			 Surrey and Sussex SHA 13 11 13 18 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire SHA 62 40 44 51 
			 South West Peninsula SHA 17 17 10 16 
			 Dorset and Somerset SHA 28 8 9 12 
			 South Yorkshire SHA * * * * 
			 Trent SHA 6 8 10 8 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland SHA 21 * 0 0 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire SHA 13 6 12 * 
			 Birmingham and the Black Country SHA * * * * 
			 West Midlands South SHA * 0 6 11 
			 Other and Unknown 860 873 817 694 
			 Total 1,211 1,193 1,156 1,054 
			  Notes: 1.  Coverage and data quality: The maternity tail data coverage is not as complete as the rest of HES data. There are a number of reasons for the coverage and data quality issues such as: trusts submitting a significantly higher number of delivery episodes compared to birth episodes; trusts failing to submit data on the number of birth episodes where they record a high number of delivery episodes; trusts failing to submit delivery - the reason for this is that approximately 20 trusts have a stand alone maternity system which is not linked to the Patient Administration System; trusts identifying a high number of maternity beds available, but not recording any information about deliveries or births; trusts identifying that they have no maternity beds available, but recording a high number of birth and delivery episodes; and Some trusts have space in their maternity system to record nine birth tails, whereas other systems have space for 18. As deliveries, miscarriages and abortions are all recorded in the birth tail, there are cases where nine tails is not enough to record all of the relevant data. 2. Between 2001-02 and 2005-06, coverage of hospital deliveries was 72.6 per cent., on average, whereas that of home deliveries was 13.6 per cent., on average. The incomplete coverage problem is significantly compounded by the data quality issues outlined. 3.  Assessing growth through time: HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. During the years that these records have been collected the NHS there have been ongoing improvements in quality and coverage. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Some of the increase in figures for later years (particularly 2006-07 onwards) may be due to the improvement in the coverage of independent sector activity. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example a number of procedures may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and may no longer be accounted in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time. 4.  FCE: A FCE is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. The figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year. 5.  All Diagnoses count of episodes: These figures represent a count of all FCE's where the diagnosis was mentioned in any of the 14 (seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in a HES record. International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-IO diagnosis codes used: P96.1 Neonatal withdrawal symptoms form maternal use of drugs of addiction. P96.2 Withdrawal symptoms form therapeutic use of drugs in newborn. 6.  Low Numbers: Due to reasons of confidentiality, figures between one and five have been suppressed and replaced with '*' (an asterisk). 7.  Ungrossed Data: Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The Information Centre for health and social care.

Drugs: Babies

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children were born to drug-dependent mothers in each of the last five years, broken down by  (a) region and  (b) type of drug.

Dawn Primarolo: The following tables show the number of deliveries finished consultant episodes (FCEs) by drug dependent mothers by strategic health authority (SHA) region in 2002-03 to 2005-06, and in 2006-07; and the number of deliveries (FCEs) to drug dependent mothers for the same period, broken down by diagnosis code and type of drug used.
	
		
			  Count of deliveries by drug dependent mothers broken down by SHA of residence, 2002-03 to 2005-06 
			   Total finished consultant delivery episodes 
			  SHA of residence  2005-06  2004-05  2003-04  2002-03 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire SHA 489 362 410 360 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire SHA * * * * 
			 Essex SHA 11 37 11 7 
			 North West London SHA 10 15 110 6 
			 North Central London SHA 40 25 11 12 
			 North East London SHA 18 7 6 19 
			 South East London SHA 16 10 21 42 
			 South West London SHA 12 10 12 6 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear SHA 66 55 44 22 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley SHA 162 77 52 28 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire SHA 31 22 24 12 
			 West Yorkshire SHA 45 33 47 39 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire SHA 126 233 69 42 
			 Greater Manchester SHA 110 92 80 22 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside SHA 105 111 65 60 
			 Thames Valley SHA 16 19 14 11 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight SHA 10 10 8 * 
			 Kent and Medway SHA 21 27 21 35 
			 Surrey and Sussex SHA 43 33 34 24 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire SHA 38 40 36 27 
			 South West Peninsula SHA 20 16 16 9 
			 Dorset and Somerset SHA * 8 6 12 
			 South Yorkshire SHA 126 114 78 60 
			 Trent SHA 122 105 93 80 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland SHA 26 34 40 21 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire SHA 65 59 43 30 
			 Birmingham and the Black Country SHA 167 138 81 45 
			 West Midlands South SHA 38 33 19 8 
			 Other and Unknown 17 13 6 15 
			 Total 1,956 1,741 1,460 1,057 
		
	
	
		
			  2006-07 
			  SHA of residence  Total finished consultant delivery episodes 
			 North East SHA 267 
			 North West SHA 305 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber SHA 227 
			 East Midlands SHA 160 
			 West Midlands SHA 287 
			 East of England SHA 506 
			 London SHA 58 
			 South East Coast SHA 51 
			 South Central SHA 23 
			 South West SHA 64 
			 Other and Unknown 22 
			 Total 1,970 
		
	
	
		
			  Count of deliveries by drug dependent mothers for the period 2002-03 to 2006-07 by diagnosis code and type of drug used 
			Total finished consultant delivery episodes 
			  Diagnosis code  Type of drug  2006-07  2005-06  2004-05  2003-04  2002-03 
			 F10.2 Alcohol 82 62 50 31 22 
			 F11.2 Opioids 1,059 1,014 946 772 535 
			 F12.2 Cannabinoids 100 93 81 52 19 
			 F13.2 Sedatives or hypnotics * 8 12 * * 
			 F14.2 Cocaine 32 47 32 33 25 
			 F15.2 Other stimulants including Caffeine 27 10 9 11 * 
			 F16.2 Hallucinogens 16 13 8 8 14 
			 F17.2 Tobacco 641 748 606 564 440 
			 F18.2 Volatile solvents * 0 0 * 0 
			 F19.2 Multiple drug use 61 32 41 27 18 
			  Total(1) 1,970 1,956 1,741 1,460 1,057 
			 (1 )For all years the total number of cases is higher when looking at the yearly total broken down by drug use compared to the yearly figure broken down by region. This is because there will be several cases where the mother has been diagnosed as using more than one type of drug and those drugs have been recognised. International Classification of Diseases-10 diagnosis code F19.2 Mental and behavioural disorders due to multiple drug use and use of other psychoactive substances is only used when patterns of psychoactive substance-taking are chaotic and indiscriminate or when the contributions of different psychoactive substances are inextricably mixed.  Coverage and data quality: The maternity tail data coverage is not as complete as the rest of HES data. There are a number of reasons for the coverage and data quality issues such as: trusts submitting a significantly higher number of delivery episodes compared to birth episodes; trusts failing to submit data on the number of birth episodes where they record a high number of delivery episodes; trusts failing to submit deliverythe reason for this is that approximately 20 trusts have a stand alone maternity system which is not linked to the Patient Administration System; trusts identifying a high number of maternity beds available, but not recording any information about deliveries or births; trusts identifying that they have no maternity beds available, but recording a high number of birth and delivery episodes; and some trusts have space in their maternity system to record nine birth tails, whereas other systems have space for 18. As deliveries, miscarriages and abortions are all recorded in the birth tail, there are cases where nine tails is not enough to record all of the relevant data. Between 2001-02 and 2005-06, coverage of hospital deliveries was 72.6 per cent. on average, whereas that of home deliveries was 13.6 per cent. on average. The incomplete coverage problem is significantly compounded by the data quality issues outlined above.  Assessing growth through time: HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. During the years that these records have been collected the NHS there have been ongoing improvements in quality and coverage. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Some of the increase in figures for later years (particularly 2006-07 onwards) may be due to the improvement in the coverage of independent sector activity. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example a number of procedures may now be undertaken in out-patient settings and may no longer be accounted in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.  Finished Consultant Episode (FCE): A FCE is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. The figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year.  Secondary Diagnoses: As well as the primary diagnosis, there are up to 13 (6 prior to 2002-03) secondary diagnosis fields in Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) that show other diagnoses relevant to the episode of care. ICD-10 code used: Z37. Outcome of delivery (must always been found in the first secondary position)  All Diagnoses count of episodes: These figures represent a count of all FCE's where the diagnosis was mentioned in any of the 14 secondary (seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in a HES record. ICD-10 diagnosis codes used (and must be accompanied by secondary diagnosis code): F10.2 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol, dependence syndrome; F11.2 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of opioids, dependence syndrome; F12.2 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of cannabinoids, dependence syndrome; F13.2 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of sedatives or hypnotics, dependence syndrome; F14.2 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of cocaine, dependence syndrome; 
			 F15.2 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of other stimulants, including caffeine, dependence syndrome; F16.2 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of hallucinogens, dependence syndrome; F17.2 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of tobacco, dependence syndrome; F18.2 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of volatile solvents, dependence syndrome; and F19.2 Mental and behavioural disorders due to multiple drug use and use of other psychoactive substances, dependence syndrome. The codes indicate addiction to all types of drugs. For example F11.2 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of Opioids, would include addiction to Heroin and also Opioids found in prescription drugs.  Low Numbers: Due to reasons of confidentiality, figures between one and five have been suppressed and replaced with '*' (an asterisk). Where it was possible to identify numbers from the total due to a single suppressed number in a row or column, an additional smallest number have been suppressed in order to protect patient confidentiality.  Ungrossed Data: Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).  Source:  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The Information Centre for Health and social care.

Drugs: Rehabilitation

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much PricewaterhouseCoopers was paid for its review of prison-based drug treatment funding; and what competitive tendering process was undertaken to choose a private sector provider for this report.

Dawn Primarolo: The tender for the review of prison-based drug treatment funding was let to PricewaterhouseCoopers at a cost of 317,510. Additional funding for a value of 9,000 was also provided due to a change in the requirements.
	The tendering process took place under the Department's consultancy services framework, which allows limited competition between 43 registered suppliers, chosen following a rigorous procurement process. Pre-agreed terms and conditions with these suppliers offer the Department sound contractual safeguards.
	Three companies tendered for the review. In total, there are 13 companies listed under the consultancy services framework's sub-category of health consultancy. These were all invited to tender.

Epilepsy: Death

Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether his Department has monitored progress on the commitments to improve the investigation of epilepsy-related death and the support to bereaved families made by the Department of Health's Action Plan 2003 in response to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence clinical audit of epilepsy-related deaths in 2002;
	(2)  whether his Department has monitored epilepsy-related death since the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence national clinical audit of epilepsy-related death 2002.

Ann Keen: The Department has not monitored epilepsy-related deaths since the publication if the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence clinical audit.
	The Department has not monitored progress on the commitments to improve the investigation of epilepsy-related death and the support provided to bereaved families made in the Department's Action Plan 2003.
	In 2006, the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcomes and Death (NCEPOD) reported on the conduct of coronial autopsy and made specific recommendations on deaths suspected to be related to epilepsy. They also published a self assessment checklist for trusts allowing them to check their progress in adopting NCEPOD's recommendations.

Eyesight: Testing

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's policy is on the desirable frequency of eye examinations for  (a) children under 16 years old and  (b) adults.

Ann Keen: The Department issued guidance on the frequency of general ophthalmic services sight tests in 2002. The guidance contains the following minimum intervals for sight tests:
	
		
			  Patient's age  Minimum sight test interval 
			 Under 16 years, in the absence of any binocular vision anomaly 1 year 
			 Under 7 years with binocular vision anomaly or corrected refractive error 6 months 
			 7 years and over and under 16 with binocular vision anomaly or rapidly progressing myopia 6 months 
			 16 years and over and under 70 years 2 years 
			 70 years and over 1 year 
			 40 years and over with family history of glaucoma or with ocular hypertension and not in a monitoring scheme 1 year 
			 Diabetic patients 1 year 
		
	
	The General Ophthalmic Services Regulations require optometrists or ophthalmic medical practitioners (practitioners) to satisfy themselves that a sight test is clinically necessary. Therefore, the intervals given are not to be read as applying to all patients in a category.
	A practitioner may carry out a sight test at a shorter interval than those listed, either at the practitioner's initiative for a clinical reason, or because the patient presents him/herself to the practitioner with symptoms or concerns which might be related to an eye condition.

Eyesight: Testing

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many free eye examinations were carried out by the NHS for (a) children under 16 years old and  (b) adults entitled to free eye examinations in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: The latest numbers relating to General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) sight tests paid for by the national health service, by patient eligibility, are available in table 3 of the General Ophthalmic Services: Activity Statistics for England and Wales: April 2007-September 2007 report. This information is for the first six months of 2007-08.
	This report, published on 26 March 2007, has been placed in the Library and is also available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-datacollections/primarycare/eyecare/generalophthalmicservices:-activity-statistics-for-england-and-wales:-april-2007--september-2007
	The number of GOS sight tests paid for by the NHS, by patient eligibility, in England and in Wales, for the year ending 31 March 2007 are available in table B4 of General Ophthalmic Services: Activity Statistics for England and Wales, Year Ending 31 March 2007 report.
	This report, published 31 July 2007, is available in the Library and is also available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/gosactivity310307
	The number of GOS sight tests paid for by the NHS, by patient eligibility, in England and in Wales, for the year ending 31 March 2006 are available in table A4 of the General Ophthalmic Services: Activity Statistics for England and Wales, Year Ending 31 March 2006 report.
	This report, published 27 July 2006, is available in the Library and is also available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/genophservsactivitystats
	In the above reports, information is provided for children aged 0 to 15 and by various adult eligibility groups.
	The number of GOS sight tests paid for by the NHS, by patient eligibility, in England, Wales, Scotland and Great Britain for the years ending 31 March 1996 to 2005 are available in table 3 of General Ophthalmic Services: Consultation tables for England, Wales and Scotland, 2004-05. Information is available for children (aged 15 and under), students in full-time education (aged 16 to 18) and other eligible adults.
	This report, published 30 November 2005, has been placed in the Library and is also available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/genopth2005
	All reports have been published by the Information Centre for health and social care.

General Practitioners

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department holds on the average distance between a person's home and nearest GP surgery in different parts of the country.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department does not hold information regarding the average distance between a person's home and nearest general practitioner surgery centrally.

General Practitioners

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of general practitioner practices there will be in England in 2010-11.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has made no projections of general practitioner practice data. Any estimate will depend on decisions made by primary care trusts on the local configuration of health services.

General Practitioners

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of primary care trusts have submitted plans to his Department for a GP-led health centre in their area.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has not asked to see individual plans or specifications from primary care trusts. Strategic health authorities will provide assurances that each primary care trusts' plans reflect the procurement principles and core criteria.

General Practitioners

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what he estimates will be the average annual cost of running one of the new 150 GP-led health centres.

Ben Bradshaw: The cost of each new service will be dependant upon its clinical design based on local health need.

General Practitioners

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients he estimates will be registered on average at each of the new 150 GP-led health centres.

Ben Bradshaw: This will be determined locally by primary care trusts and is likely to vary depending on the needs and access of the local population.

General Practitioners

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the timetable is for the establishment of the new 150 GP-led health centres.

Ben Bradshaw: The Operating Framework set a national requirement for primary care trusts to undertake open and transparent procurements during 2008-09 for new general practitioner-led health centres. Exact service commencement will depend on a range of local circumstances, including the availability of premises.

General Practitioners

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the average number of general practitioners working in a general practitioner-led health centre.

Ben Bradshaw: This information is not collected centrally. Decisions on service configurations is a local matter for primary care trusts.

General Practitioners

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of general practitioners he estimates will be based in one of the new 150 general practitioner-led health centres in 2010.

Ben Bradshaw: This will be determined by primary care trusts and will depend on a range of local factors, including the clinical design of the services.

General Practitioners

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what services the new 150 general practitioner-led health centres will be expected to provide.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has established the following core criteria for each new health centre service:
	easily accessible locations;
	core general practitioner (GP) services;
	open 8 am-8 pm, seven days per week;
	bookable GP appointments and walk-in services;
	registered and non-registered patients; and
	maximising opportunities to integrate and co-locate with other community based services.
	Beyond these, local commissioners will determine the precise range of services in ways that best meet local health needs.

General Practitioners

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioner-led health centres his Department plans to introduce by 2010; and what estimate he has made of the impact of the introduction of these centres on the number of general practitioner practices.

Ben Bradshaw: The configuration of health services is a local matter for primary care trusts. From 2008-09 the Department will support primary care trusts (PCTs) in commissioning 152 new general practitioner led health centres to add to existing provision.
	PCTs are currently engaging with stakeholders, including local patients and national health service staff about how new health centre services are best provided to meet local needs and the effect they may have on existing provision.

General Practitioners

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the first of the new 150 GP-led health centres to open.

Ben Bradshaw: Primary care trusts are currently developing their plans and specifications with their strategic health authorities. It is too early to say at this stage when and where we expect the first services to open.

General Practitioners

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the effect of establishing the new 150 GP-led health centres on the average distance from a person's home to the nearest GP surgery.

Ben Bradshaw: Primary care trusts are responsible for assessing the impact of local health service configurations. They are currently engaging with their stakeholders, including local patients and national health service staff about how new general practitioner led health centre services are best provided to meet local needs and the effect they may have on existing provision.

Health Services: Regulation

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what representations have been received by the NHS Appointments Commission in England on the communication skills to be required of professional applicants for membership of councils of professional health regulatory bodies;
	(2)  what representations have been received by the NHS Appointments Commission in England on the patient and public advocacy skills to be required of lay applicants for membership of councils of professional health regulatory bodies.

Ben Bradshaw: This is a matter for discussion between the Appointments Commission and the relevant professional regulatory bodies. However, they will wish to take into account the recommendations in Niall Dickson's report 'Enhancing Confidence in Healthcare Professional Regulation, when it is published'.

Health Services: Regulation

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of proposals requiring members of councils of professional health regulatory bodies regularly to consult national and local patient and consumer bodies.

Ben Bradshaw: This matter has been raised during consultation on the Health Care and Associated Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order. The Government are in the process of analysing all the responses and a report will be published shortly.

Health Services: Regulation

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are in place to ensure that  (a) professional and  (b) lay members of councils of (i) professional healthcare regulatory bodies and (ii) the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence reflect patient and service user concerns; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: This is currently a matter for discussion between the Appointments Commission and the relevant regulatory bodies. However, in the future they will want to consider the recommendations of Niall Dickson's report 'Enhancing Confidence in Healthcare Professional Regulation', when it is published. We will also be asking the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence for advice on this matter.

Health Services: Regulation

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration has been given to introducing a requirement for lay applicants for membership of councils of professional health regulatory bodies to demonstrate an understanding of issues from  (a) patient,  (b) consumer and  (c) public perspectives.

Ben Bradshaw: In May 2007, the former Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Lord Hunt asked Niall Dickson, chief executive of the Kings Fund, to chair one of the seven working groups to take forward key recommendations in the White Paper 'Trust, Assurance and Safety'. This group was asked to examine those aspects of the White Paper concerned with enhancing public confidence in the regulators of health care professionals. Among these were the criteria for recruitment of lay members for membership of councils of professional health regulatory bodies. The Department will discuss the recommendations of the report of the group with the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence, the regulatory bodies and the Appointments Commission.

Health Trainers

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2383W, on health trainers, how many health trainers there were in  (a) each primary care trust and  (b) the NHS in September 2006.

Dawn Primarolo: In September 2006, figures for health trainers were not collected. The programme for 2006-07 was been rolled out across spearhead primary care trusts (PCTs) with 2007-08 seeing the programme expanded to all PCTs.
	We do, however, have an overall figure of health trainers recruited to the programme at that time, which stands at approximately 900. The vast majority of those were sited in spearhead PCTs.

Influenza: Vaccination

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the take-up of influenza vaccinations by pensioners over 65 years old in  (a) Houghton and Washington East constituency,  (b) Tyne and Wear and  (c) England in the last year for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: Influenza vaccine uptake is reported to the Department by primary care trusts (PCT) and strategic health authorities (SHAs) and is based on the number of patients registered at reporting general practitioners practices who were vaccinated between 1 September 2007 and 31 January 2008. Data are not collected by constituency.
	Influenza vaccine uptake for those 65 years and over was 77 per cent. for Sunderland Teaching PCT and 74 per cent. overall in England.
	This information and influenza uptake information for all PCTs and SHAs has been placed in the Library and is also available at:
	www.immunisation.nhs.uk/Vaccines/Flu/Vaccine

Kidney Patients: Lancashire

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many kidney transplant operations were performed in Lancashire hospitals in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: None. Kidney transplants are carried out in specialist centres. In the North West these are located at Manchester Royal Infirmary and the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

Kidney Patients: Lancashire

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) inpatients and  (b) outpatients treated in Lancashire hospitals were on dialysis following kidney failure in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	Information on acceptance rates onto renal replacement therapies, the percentage of patients on each modality of treatment, and the referral to treatment times for such patients is collected by the UK Renal Registry. The annual reports containing analysis of data from 1997 to 2006 can be found on the Renal Registry's website at:
	www.renalreg.com

Kidney Patients: Lancashire

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in Lancashire hospitals in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: The requested information is not collected centrally. Data on the number of admissions to hospital where the primary reason was chronic kidney disease is collected. However, this does not take account of the time or location of diagnosis.

Kidney Patients: Lancashire

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many clinical trials were conducted in Lancashire hospitals as part of kidney disease research in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	The Department has set up and is funding the National Institute for Health Research UK clinical research network to ensure patients and clinicians in all parts of the country can take part in and benefit from clinical research. The comprehensive clinical research network will provide support (through 25 local research networks) for studies in all areas of disease and clinical need, including renal medicine.

Kidney Patients: Lancashire

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on kidney disease research in Lancashire hospitals in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Learning Disability: Adults

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much his Department spent on each category of services for adults with learning disabilities in each year since 2001-02;
	(2)  how much and what proportion of the  (a) adult social care and  (b) NHS budget was spent on people with a learning disability in each of the last four years.

Ivan Lewis: The information available is shown as follows.
	Table 1 shows how much was spent by adult social services departments in England on each category of services for adults aged 18-64 with learning disabilities in each year since 2001-02 to 2006-07. Adults aged 65 or over with learning disabilities cannot be separately identified. This information would have been recorded in the older people client group.
	Table 2 shows how much was spent on all adults (including older people) and the proportion of expenditure on adults with learning disabilities aged 18-64 through adult social services in England each year since 2003-04 to 2006-07. Adults aged 65 or over with learning disabilities cannot be separately identified. This expenditure would have been recorded in the older people client group.
	Table 3 shows the estimated expenditure on learning disabilities through national health service specialised learning disability services each year since 2003-04 to 2006-07. We do not hold a breakdown of this expenditure on each category of services for adults with learning disabilities within the NHS.
	It is for individual local authorities and NHS trusts to determine the level of funding available from their general allocations for the needs of people with learning disabilities, taking into consideration locally identified needs and assessments of individuals.
	
		
			  Table 1: Gross current expenditure on adults aged 18-64 with learning disabilities, 2001-02 to 2006-07 
			  000 
			   2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Assessment and care management 116,666 136,821 152,659 176,183 205,392 201,293 
			 Nursing home placements (1)35,358 69,362 63,167 74,216 77,098 72,506 
			 Residential care home placements (2)935,917 1,161,765 1,174,039 1,293,325 1,393,556 1,459,134 
			 Supported and other accommodation 139,678 153,734 163,464 181,996 191,179 228,296 
			 Direct Payments 4,877 8,303 14,368 27,530 42,181 60,799 
			 Home care 127,663 138,671 175,347 216,098 288,125 349,107 
			 Day care 474,416 516,568 558,586 572,359 620,478 638,879 
			 Equipment and adaptations 1,483 1,020 808 727 799 937 
			 Meals 573 789 1,488 734 1,306 950 
			 Other services to adults with learning disabilities 67,360 66,449 66,616 97,990 93,502 109,199 
			 Total (excluding Supporting People) 1,903,991 2,253,481 2,370,541 2,641,158 2,913,618 3,121,100 
			 Supporting People(3)   238,899 209,066 196,708 171,182 
			 Total (including Supporting People)   2,609,441 2,850,224 3,110,326 3,292,281 
			 (1) From 2002-03 onwards data includes expenditure related to clients formerly in receipt of preserved rights. (2) From 2002-03 onwards data includes expenditure related to clients formerly in receipt of preserved rights. (3) Supporting People programme started in April 2003.  Source: PSSEX1 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Adult social services and learning disability gross current expenditure 2003-04 to 2006-07 
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Adult social services expenditure (000) 12,775,914 13,696,392 14,494,908 15,014,838 
			 Learning Disability (aged 18-64) expenditure (000) 2,609,441 2,850,224 3,110,326 3,292,281 
			 Learning Disability as a proportion of total adult expenditure (percentage) 20.4 20.8 21.5 21.9 
			  Source: PSSEX1 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Net estimated aggregate expenditure on learning disability for primary care trusts in England from 2003-04 to 2006-07 
			  Financial year  Net expenditure (000) 
			 2003-04 1,851,427 
			 2004-05 2,067,667 
			 2005-06 2,195,942 
			 2006-07 2,334,321 
			  Notes: 1. Data for 2006-07 may not be comparable with previous years due to changes in data definitions. 2. Learning disability is defined as 'patients where the primary issue is the problem of learning disability'.  Source: Programme Budgeting Data, Department of Health

Mental Health Services: Training

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his timetable is for implementing the recommendation on a national training scheme for mental health workers contained in the Management of Violence project's report.

Ivan Lewis: The Department and National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) are committed to the accreditation of training and regulation of trainers in the prevention and management of aggression and violence and are currently working to ensure the introduction of an effective accreditation system as soon as is practicable.
	The NIMHE issued the positive practice standards Developing Positive Practice to Support the Safe and Therapeutic Management of Aggression and Violence in Mental Health In-patient Settings in 2004. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence published guidelines in 2005 entitled Short-term Management of Violence and Disturbed Behaviour in Psychiatric In-patient Settings and Emergency Departments. These guidelines state that all service providers should have a policy for training in physical intervention that specifies the frequency and level of training required.
	On 8 February, consultation ended on definitive guidance by NIMHE, reflecting feedback on the two previous publications, entitled The National Minimum Standards for the Safe and Therapeutic Management of Aggression and Violence in Mental Health In-patient Settings. Responses to this consultation are being considered.
	The NHS Security Management Service has developed training for all NHS staff in mental health and learning disabilities settings entitled The Promoting Safer and Therapeutic Services Training Programme!. This does not include training in physical intervention techniques.

NHS Questionnaires

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2860W, on NHS questionnaires, what the cost of the surveys conducted by Ipsos MORI on behalf of the Department was for each of the last 10 years.

Ben Bradshaw: The total paid to Ipsos MORI (Market and Opinion Research International) for surveys by the Department from April 2001 to March 2008 is 26,071,628.76.
	It would not be possible to discern the specific details of each survey without incurring disproportionate cost.

NHS: Finance

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the NHS underspend was in each of the last three years for which figures are available, broken down by primary care trust.

Ben Bradshaw: The net under/overspend reported by the national health service in audited accounts for the years 2004-05 to 2006-07 is provided in the following table. The 2006-07 audited final position for individual NHS organisations, is available in the Library under the title 'table showing audited figures for the NHS for the financial year 2006-07'. Tables showing the audited financial figures for individual NHS organisations for the years 2004-05 and 2005-06 have been placed in the Library.
	
		
			  Final accounts under/(overspend) 
			  000 
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Total NHS 221,358 547,256 514,621 
			  Notes: 1. Final account figures for 2005-06 include unaudited figures for one NHS trust. 2. Foundation trusts not included.  Source: Audited summarisation schedules

NHS: Recruitment

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued to NHS trusts on use of open competition in recruitment of NHS IT personnel.

Ann Keen: holding answer 25 March 2008
	 In line with good employment practice the Department expects that individual national health service organisations comply with the relevant legal requirements in the recruitment of staff.
	NHS Employers, the body representing trusts in England on workforce issues, with the agreement of the Department, has recently issued revised guidance NHS Employment Check Standards, which outlines the checks employers must carry out for the appointment and ongoing employment of all individuals in the NHS. This does not mandate how employers should undertake the recruitment process, however local NHS organisations are encouraged to assess their recruitment and selection policies to ensure the processes are not directly or indirectly discriminatory.

NHS: Redundancy Pay

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was paid in severance payments to NHS staff in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: The information requested is not collected centrally. The employment of staff, clinicians and managers within the national health service is a matter for individual NHS organisations.

Occupational Health

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has he made of the use of  (a) NHS and  (b) privately practising occupational health specialists by employers.

Ivan Lewis: Many larger employers in the private sector provide their own occupational health (OH) services, while other employers buy OH provision from private providers. The national health service, on the other hand, provides the majority of its own occupational health provision with the remainder bought from the private sector. The NHS Plus project, funded by the Department, set up in 2006, has already begun to improve the provision of OH services to both the NHS and Small and medium enterprises in the private sector.

Occupational Health

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many primary care trusts employ at least one occupational health specialist.

Ivan Lewis: This information is not held centrally. However, every primary care trust (PCT) is required to make arrangements for the provision of occupational health specialists support to its directly employed staff. PCTs use one of three models of provision:
	directly employed occupational health specialists;
	access to occupational health specialists through a contract with another national health service body which provides occupational health services; and
	access to occupational health specialists through a contract with an independent provider of occupational health services.

Prescription Drugs: Addiction

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are receiving treatment for involuntary addiction to legal drugs; and what plans his Department has to tackle such addiction.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 20 March 2008
	This information is not held centrally.
	Primary care trusts are responsible for providing local health services, including addiction services and together with their strategic health authorities are responsible for deciding which services to plan, commission and develop to meet the health needs of their local communities.

Prescriptions

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the use of electronic repeat prescriptions in the NHS.

Ben Bradshaw: Repeat electronic prescriptions will be available through the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) once general practitioner and pharmacy information technology suppliers have implemented Release 2 of the EPS which is readily available.

Risks, Rights and Recovery

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Government will respond to the Mental Health Act Commission report, Risks, Rights and Recovery.

Ivan Lewis: We welcome the Mental Health Act Commission's report and commend it to those responsible for the care and treatment of patients under the Mental Health Act 1983. We have noted its recommendations. The Government have not, in recent years, published responses to the Commission's biennial reports and does not propose to do so in this case.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Yorkshire and Humberside

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many sexually transmitted infections were diagnosed in each constituency in Yorkshire and the Humber in each year since 1997, broken down by  (a) age group and  (b) type of infection; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Information on the number of sexually transmitted infections diagnosed in genito-urinary medicine clinics and the National Chlamydia Screening Programme in the Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Authority from 1997 to 2006 broken down by age group and type of infection has been placed in the Library.

X Rays: Maladministration

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the number of people who have been mistakenly sent for x-rays or CT scans in each English region in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: The requested information for the period between 1 January 2003 and 31 October 2006 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of incidents notified under Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations (IRMER) 2000 to Secretary of States' Inspectors which were classified as patient identification (ID) and referral errors from 1 January 2003 to 31 October 2006 
			   Region 
			   Eastern  London  North West  North Yorkshire  South East  South West  Trent  West Midlands 
			   CT  X-ray  CT  X-ray  CT  X-ray  CT  X-ray  CT  X-ray  CT  X-ray  CT  X-ray  CT  X-ray 
			 2003 1 0 3 0 4 4 2 5 2 8 1 1 1 3 4 0 
			 2004 0 0 1 2 1 1 4 1 5 9 2 0 1 7 2 4 
			 2005 0 1 1 0 2 0 1 4 4 6 1 5 1 3 1 1 
			 2006 0 1 0 2 1 1 1 2 5 5 0 2 0 0 0 4 
		
	
	From 1 November 2006 the Healthcare Commission assumed responsibility for enforcement of the (IRMER) 2000 in the Amendment Regulations of 2006.
	In March 2008 the Healthcare Commission published the first report on its activities in this area this included an analysis of the errors that led to patients being exposed unnecessarily to medical radiation.
	From 1 November 2006 to 31 December 2007 there were 105 notifications of errors in the referral of patients for diagnostic x-ray, CT scan and other diagnostic radiology investigation.
	The following table provides a breakdown by strategic health authority (SHA) area of notifications received from national health service trusts.
	
		
			  Breakdown by SHA area of diagnostic patient ID error 
			  SHA  Diagnostic patient ID error 
			 Independent Healthcare 1 
			 East of England SHA 8 
			 London SHA 12 
			 North East SHA 4 
			 North West SHA 8 
			 South Central SHA 9 
			 South East Coast SHA 11 
			 South West SHA 8 
			 West Midlands SHA 30 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber SHA 14 
			 Total 105

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcoholic Drinks: Prosecutions

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) prosecutions and  (b) convictions there were for alcohol-related offences in each of the last five years, broken down by (i) region and (ii) offence.

Jacqui Smith: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given on 20 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 1274-78 W.

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of acceptable behaviour contracts in tackling underage drinking;
	(2)  how many acceptable behaviour contracts have been issued to teenagers for drinking alcohol underage.

Jacqui Smith: Data on acceptable behaviour contracts (ABCs) are not collected by the Home Office as they are voluntary agreements and therefore not suitable for central data collection. Surveys carried out by the Home Office of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs) indicated that over 25,000 ABCs have been made since October 2003.
	A National Audit Office study in December 2006 found that such interventions were highly effective in combating antisocial behaviour. 65 per cent. of people stopped behaving antisocially after one intervention; 86 per cent. after two; and 93 per cent. after three.

Antisocial Behaviour: Fixed Penalties

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fixed penalty notices were issued for drunk and disorderly behaviour in each of the last four years.

Jacqui Smith: The number of penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) for the offence of being guilty of disorderly behaviour in any public place while drunk, issued in England and Wales for the years 2004 to 2006, the latest year for which data are available, are set out in the following table.
	A PND is a type of fixed penalty that can be issued by the police to persons committing a specified range of antisocial behaviour offences including being drunk and disorderly which attracts a penalty of 80. The PND scheme was rolled out to all 43 police forces in England and Wales in 2004 under the provisions of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001.
	
		
			  Number of penalty notices for disorder issued for drunk and disorderly in England and Wales, 2004-06( 1,2,3) 
			   Drunk and disorderly 
			 2004 26,609 
			 2005 37,038 
			 2006 43,556 
			 (1) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (2) A PND is a form of fixed penalty that can be issued for certain offences including being drunk and disorderly. The PND scheme was rolled out to all police forces in England and Wales in 2004 under the provisions of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001. Under the scheme, the police are able to issue penalty notices of either 50 or 80 for a range of minor disorder offences. The offence of drunk and disorderly attracts a fine of 80 under the PND scheme. (3) This is a recordable offence under statute: S 91, Criminal Justice Act 1967.  Source: RDS Office for Criminal Justice Reform - Ministry of Justice

Asylum

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department further to the answer of 11 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 336-7W, on asylum, if she will give a break down by nationality of the other nationalities granted leave to remain under the 2003 family indefinite leave to remain exercise.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 18 March 2008
	The requested information is contained in the following table.
	Copies of asylum statistics publications are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	
		
			  Grants of ILR issued under the Family ILR exercise as  at 7 December 2007, excluding dependants, for specified nationalities( 1, 2, 3, 4) 
			  Country of nationality  Total 
			  Africa other  
			 Benin 5 
			 Botswana * 
			 Burkina Faso 5 
			 Central African Republic * 
			 Chad 10 
			 Gabon 5 
			 Guinea 15 
			 Guinea-Bissau 10 
			 Malawi 10 
			 Mali 5 
			 Mauritania * 
			 Mauritius 15 
			 Mozambique * 
			 Niger 5 
			 Senegal * 
			 Seychelles 10 
			 South Africa 40 
			 Togo 40 
			 Western Sahara * 
			 Zambia 25 
			 Total Africa Other 200 
			   
			  Asia Other  
			 Bhutan * 
			 Cambodia * 
			 Fiji * 
			 Indonesia 10 
			 Malaysia 5 
			 Mongolia 30 
			 Myanmar (Burma) 10 
			 Nauru * 
			 Nepal 50 
			 North Korea * 
			 Philippines 15 
			 Singapore * 
			 South Korea 5 
			 Taiwan * 
			 Thailand 5 
			 Total Asia other 130 
			   
			  Middle East  
			 Bahrain * 
			 Egypt 20 
			 Israel 40 
			 Jordan 10 
			 Kuwait 10 
			 Lebanon 100 
			 Morocco 15 
			 Oman * 
			 Palestine 155 
			 Saudi Arabia 5 
			 Tunisia 10 
			 United Arab Emirates * 
			 Yemen 65 
			 Total Middle East other 440 
			 (1) Provisional figures rounded to the nearest 5 (* = 1 or 2 ). (2) Main asylum applicants. (3) This information is based on internal management information. (4) Nationality recorded as at 7 December 2007 is not necessarily the applicant's nationality at the time of grant of ILR.

Asylum

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate her Department has made of the number of  (a) refugees and  (b) internally displaced people resident in the UK in each year since 2000; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The requested information is not held and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

British Nationality: Ex-servicemen

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if her Department will seek the views of Gurkha and other ex-servicemen's charities and organisations in its consultation on the Path to British Citizenship.

Liam Byrne: The Green Paper 'The Path to Citizenship: Next Steps In Reforming The Immigration System' sets out proposals for a clearer framework for the journey to citizenship and for clarifying the routes to British citizenship or permanent residence through a new stage of probationary citizenship.
	We welcome comments on the proposals in the Green Paper from all those who have views on the future shape of the immigration system. The document can be accessed on the BIA website at:
	http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/aboutus/consultations/pathtocitizenship/
	We will finalise our proposals following the consultation period which ends on 14 May 2008.

Children: Protection

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in implementing Action 4 of the Review of Protection of Children from Sex Offenders, published in June 2007.

Jacqui Smith: The Government have identified four pilot police force areas: Cambridgeshire, Cleveland, Hampshire and Warwickshire. We are currently working with these forces to develop an appropriate system for operating the new disclosure model, and a process for evaluating the effectiveness of the pilots in terms of child protection. The pilots will be overseen by Project Board on which the Home Office, the Ministry of Justice, the Department for Children Schools and Families, ACPO, Barnardos, NCH and NSPCC are represented. The aim is for the pilots to commence this summer.

Control Orders

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals are subject to control orders; and how many of those are claiming benefits, broken down by type of benefit.

Tony McNulty: As of the last quarterly written ministerial statement updating Parliament on the operation of the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005, issued on 13 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 24-26WS, there were 11 control orders in force. The latest information the Home Office holds suggests that eight of the individuals currently subject to control orders are currently in receipt of benefits that are administered by the Department for Work and Pensions. Some individuals are in receipt of more than one form of DWP administered benefit. Of these individuals: four receive incapacity benefit, three receive jobseeker's allowance, one receives disability living allowance, three receive income support and two receive child tax credit.
	In addition, five controlled individuals are currently living in Home Office provided housing.
	The Home Office does not hold information where controlled persons are in receipt of benefits administered by Government Departments other than the Home Office or the Department for Work and Pensions.

Credit Cards: Fraud

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking in conjunction with the police to take action when card cloning is suspected.

Vernon Coaker: I refer the hon. Member to my letter dated 19 March 2008.

Departmental Consultants

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent by her Department on consultants in each financial year since 1997, broken down by consultancy.

Liam Byrne: The Home Department engages consultancy firms to support and augment civil servants in the delivery of a specific range of work, including large IT development programmes and, where more cost effective, longer term service delivery programmes.
	The Department's expenditure on these services is allocated across a wide range of firms, from small, specialist companies with niche expertise and few employees, to global multinational organizations offering a broad spectrum and substantial depth of consultancy expertise.
	The Department awards contracts in competition according to the EU Procurement Directives based on value for money. The Department uses OGC framework agreements where appropriate. The use of external consultants provides the Department with specialist knowledge, skill, capacity and technical expertise that would not otherwise be available. Some expenditure is on consultants to whom we have outsourced services, such as IT.
	To provide information on the Department's consultancy spend broken down by consultancy since 1997 would incur disproportionate cost. The information held by the Home Department on the total value of spend on consultancy since 1997 is as follows:
	
		
			   
			  Financial year  HO Headquarters  IPS  Total spend 
			 1997-98 7,627,016 (1) 7,627,016 
			 1998-99 4,351,060 237,385 4,588,445 
			 1999-00 9,822,145 480,527 10,302,672 
			 2000-01 30,716,195 (2)457,073 31,173,268 
			 2001-02 24,383,520 (2)1,938,219 26,321,739 
			 2002-03 (3) (2)2,272,996 (3) 
			 2003-04 111,602,850 (2)3,836,770 115,439,620 
			 2004-05 55,991,869 (2)4,486,183 60,478,052 
			 2005-06 128,000,000 (2)10,912,741 138,912,741 
			 2006-07 118,000,000 29,870,522 147,870,522 
			 (1) Included in HO HQ. (2) IPS recently revised figures. (3) Not held.

Departmental Consultants

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contracts were awarded by her Department to  (a) KPMG,  (b) PricewaterhouseCoopers,  (c) Ernst and Young,  (d) McKinsey,  (e) Deloitte and  (f) any other consultancy firms in each of the last 12 months; and what the (i) purpose and (ii) value was of each of these contracts.

Liam Byrne: The Home Department engages consultancy firms to support and augment civil servants in the delivery of a specific range of work, including large IT development programmes and, where more cost effective, longer term service delivery programmes.
	The Department's expenditure on these services is allocated across a wide range of firms, from small, specialist companies with niche expertise and few employees, to global multinational organisations offering a broad spectrum and substantial depth of consultancy expertise.
	The Department awards contracts in competition according to the EU procurement directives based on value for money. The Department uses OGC framework agreements where appropriate. The use of external consultants provides the Department with specialist knowledge, skill, capacity and technical expertise that would not otherwise be available. Some expenditure is on consultants to whom we have outsourced services, such as IT.
	The Department does not hold a central record of individual contracts with external consultants. To provide information on what contracts were awarded by the Department to  (a) KPMG,  (b) PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst and Young, McKinsey,  (e) Deloitte and  (f) any other consultancy firms in each of the last 12 months would incur disproportionate cost.
	The (i) purpose of the contracts is the provision of advice, guidance, training and operational development and support in a broad range of areas from business change to technical development.
	The latest information held by the Home Department on the (ii) value of the total spend with the named companies relates to the FY 2006-07 and is as follows:
	
		
			  Home Office including agencies 2006-07   
			 Deloitte and Touche 13,753,669 
			 Ernst and Young 4,675,868 
			 KPMG 1,873,314 
			 McKinsey 1,600,000 
			 PricewaterhouseCoopers 4,669,861 
		
	
	The latest information held on the Department's total consultancy spend inclusive of that with the named companies above for the FY 2006-07 is as follows:
	
		
			   
			  Financial year  HO headquarters  IPS  Total spend 
			 2006-07 118,000,000 29,870,522 147,870,522

Departmental Recruitment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the policy of British jobs for British workers will affect her Department's recruitment policy.

Liam Byrne: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the House by the Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office (Mr. Watson) on 3 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2206W.

Departmental Sustainable Development

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when her Department plans to publish its sustainable operations policy statement.

Liam Byrne: In order to meet the requirements of the sustainable operations in Government targets a new sustainable operations policy statement has been prepared and will be issued in the next few months following approval by the relevant Home Office Boards.

Detention Centres: Offenders

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many time-served foreign national prisoners being held in immigration removal centres were convicted of  (a) Class A drug trafficking,  (b) terrorist offences and  (c) violent offences.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Drug Seizures

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the proportion of drugs seized by the Serious and Organised Crime Agency in 2006-07 that were ultimately destined for the UK.

Jacqui Smith: SOCA's 2006-07 annual report detailed the total volume of Class A drugs seizures in which the agency was involved. No attempt was made to estimate what percentage of these seizures were ultimately destined for the UK, as such estimates would be subjective and likely to be inaccurate.

Drug Seizures: Cannabis

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much cannabis was seized by the Serious and Organised Crime Agency in 2006-07.

Jacqui Smith: The amount of cannabis seized by the Serious Organised Crime Agency as a result of UK-based operations in 2006-07 was as follows:
	
		
			   Kg 
			 Resin 9,107 
			 Herbal 616 
			 Skunk 315 
			 Total 10,038

Entry Clearances: Kenya

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people seeking to enter the UK from  (a) Kenya and  (b) South Africa have been refused entry due to confirmed or suspected cases of tuberculosis in the last 12 months.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 31 March 2008
	The Border and Immigration Agency does not collect statistics on the numbers of passengers who are refused leave to enter as a result of having tuberculosis.

Foreign Workers

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what arrangements unskilled or low-skilled migrants from outside the EU were allowed to migrate to the UK in 2007; what maximum stay in the UK was permitted under each arrangement; how many migrants entered the UK under each arrangement in 2007; and what will happen to these arrangements when the points-based migration system becomes fully operational.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 25 March 2008
	In 2007, 60 per cent. of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) quota (16,250) could be filled through applications from outside the European Union, the remainder through applications from Romania or Bulgaria. The maximum stay permitted under SAWS is six months. From 2008, applications to SAWS are accepted only from Romania and Bulgaria. SAWS will be phased out by 2010.
	Domestic workers in private households may accompany their employer to the UK. Leave may be granted for a period of 12 months initially, with the possibility to extend and apply for settlement once they have spent a continuous period of five years in the UK in this capacity. The latest published figure is that 12,500 entered in 2006.
	There are no plans for a separate route for overseas domestic workers in private households, under the points-based system.
	Low skilled schemes will be catered for under tier 3 of the points-based system. However, tier 3 is currently suspended and will remain so as long as labour market restrictions are in place for Romania and Bulgaria.

Frontiers: Security

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what  (a) discussions there have been on and  (b) consideration has been given to the merits of setting up an e-borders system around the Common Travel Area.

Liam Byrne: We continue to work closely with the Government of the Republic of Ireland on operational, policy and legislative issues that affect the common travel area (CTA), including on the implementation of the e-Borders programme which is a key part of the Government's plans for securing our borders.
	As set out in our 'Securing the UK Border' strategy, March 2007, the CTA presents immigration risks and we are reviewing the rules and operation of the CTA to explore how border security can be strengthened. Monitoring all major air and sea movements across CTA borders via e-Borders by 2011 is one of the measures we are taking to strengthen operation of the CTA. The results of the review will be announced in due course.

Genetics: Databases

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many DNA samples from the National DNA database have been used for each research project undertaken using data from the National DNA database to date; and if she will make a statement.

Meg Hillier: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 7 January 2008,  Official Report, column 281W.

Homicide: Greater London

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many homicides were recorded by the Metropolitan police in  (a) 2000-01 and  (b) 2006-07.

Jacqui Smith: Available Home Office data are from the homicide index and relate to offences currently recorded as homicide. As at 12 November 2007, when recording closed down for the purpose of analysis, the Metropolitan police service had recorded 178 homicides in 2000-01 and 167 in 2006-07. These are not necessarily the years in which the incidents took place or the years in which any court decisions were made. Figures will change as subsequent court hearings take place or other information is received.

Human Trafficking

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken to assist trafficked persons discovered during Pentameter 1.

Maria Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	Operation Pentameter 1 recovered 88 possible victims. Victims were assisted into support services or returned to their country of origin. During the campaign specific guidance was given to police officers on appropriate victim care and police forces were asked to scope local service provision to help develop local strategies and partnerships.

Identity Cards: Banks

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she and Ministers in her Department have had with representatives of high street banks on identity cards in the last 12 months; and what was the date of each such meeting.

Jacqui Smith: There have been no ministerial meetings on identity cards with representatives from the banking sector within the last 12 months.

Police Custody: Expenditure

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how much her Department has been invoiced for costs incurred under Operation Safeguard, since the start of 2008, broken down by police force; and if she will make a statement.

Jack Straw: I have been asked to reply.
	Police forces invoice in arrears for the cost of holding prisoners under Operation Safeguard.
	The following table shows the amounts invoiced by police forces this year up to 27 March. Some of the costs relate to Safeguard use in 2007.
	
		
			  Police authority  Total invoiced  () 
			 North Wales 437,025.55 
			 West Yorkshire 181,194.95 
			 Leicestershire 30,766.69 
			 Kent 288,436.77 
			 South Yorkshire 55,076.00 
			 Thames Valley 138,229.75 
			 Metropolitan 1,114,133.18 
			 Devon and Cornwall 105,281.00 
			 Total invoiced 2,350,143.89 
		
	
	Police cells have been used to hold prisoners before. They were used to hold prisoners regularly from 1982 until 1993, and from 1994-95. They were also used from July to November 2002. Their use peaked in 1988, and peaked again in 1990-92, when more than 1,000 prisoners a night were being regularly held in police cells.

Police Stations

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2008,  Official Report, columns 994-5W, on police stations, for what reasons changes in the use of police buildings have made it difficult to obtain comprehensive information as to the number of police stations in use.

Jacqui Smith: The use of police stations has changed in recent years to reflect more flexible modern policing. Many forces have now devised innovative ways of increasing their accessibility to members of the public by using other more modern methods of interaction, such as police shops in high streets, police kiosks and by use of mobile police stationsparticularly in rural areas.
	The management of the police estate and allocation of resources are matters for each police authority and the chief officer, who are responsible for assessing local needs.

Police: Dismissal

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of police officers in each force were dismissed through the incapability procedure in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not centrally collected as part of the police personnel statistics series.

Police: Pensions

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the contribution rates were for police officers to the contributory pension scheme in the latest year for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: There are two police pension schemes in England and Wales, the Police Pension Scheme (1987) (PPS) and the New Police Pension Scheme (2006) (NPPS) which was introduced for new entrants with effect from 6 April 2006.
	The employee contribution rate for the PPS is 11 per cent. of pensionable pay (7.5 per cent. if an officer is ineligible for ill-health benefits).
	The employee contribution rate for the NPPS is 9.5 per cent. of pensionable pay (6 per cent. if an officer is ineligible for ill-health benefits).

Police: Resignations

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers resigned from police forces in England and Wales in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 18 February 2008
	The available data are given in the following table.
	Officer resignations have remained stable in the last four years (2003-04 to 2006-07) and the figures represent 1.5 per cent. 1.4 per cent. 1.5 per cent. and 1.5 per cent. of total officer strength respectively in each year.
	
		
			  Police officer resignations( 1)  by police force area (FTE)( 2)  from 2002-03 to 2006-07( 3, 4) 
			   2002-03( 5)  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Avon and Somerset 11 52 40 77 35 
			 Bedfordshire 22 39 35 24 23 
			 Cambridgeshire 22 23 34 26 28 
			 Cheshire 10 21 26 37 24 
			 Cleveland 2 23 20 24 25 
			 Cumbria 9 11 15 11 17 
			 Derbyshire 14 21 20 20 41 
			 Devon and Cornwall 22 13 31 44 34 
			 Dorset 11 18 20 22 19 
			 Durham 4 19 19 15 16 
			 Dyfed-Powys 5 9 17 12 8 
			 Essex 12 36 66 79 81 
			 Gloucestershire 10 16 16 19 20 
			 Greater Manchester 43 126 128 186 159 
			 Gwent 1 15 17 20 16 
			 Hampshire 35 68 47 64 49 
			 Hertfordshire 28 56 54 55 63 
			 Humberside 20 29 36 31 34 
			 Kent 37 72 60 66 49 
			 Lancashire 17 28 42 26 32 
			 Leicestershire 20 35 36 45 27 
			 Lincolnshire 10 16 19 20 16 
			 London, City of 19 12 11 11 11 
			 Merseyside 22 34 38 83 61 
			 Metropolitan Police 453 552 422 337 531 
			 Norfolk 9 10 13 22 24 
			 Northamptonshire 9 26 30 24 19 
			 Northumbria 35 29 34 38 49 
			 North Wales 7 22 17 27 22 
			 North Yorkshire 11 15 18 17 32 
			 Nottinghamshire 12 13 25 14 28 
			 South Wales 20 21 18 29 39 
			 South Yorkshire 36 46 57 40 38 
			 Staffordshire 7 27 43 24 22 
			 Suffolk 14 28 26 14 12 
			 Surrey 27 34 32 37 46 
			 Sussex 35 124 113 82 76 
			 Thames Valley 64 71 100 131 86 
			 Warwickshire 14 19 15 12 18 
			 West Mercia 18 27 21 19 38 
			 West Midlands 89 107 119 137 105 
			 West Yorkshire 34 46 72 89 65 
			 Wiltshire 18 18 24 26 16 
			 Total (5)1,316 2,026 2,042 2,133 2,151 
			 (1) Resignations also include those officers who have rejoined the force as part of the 30+ scheme and subsequently leave the force. (2) Full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items. (3) Financial year runs 1 April to 31 March inclusive. Comparable data are not available prior to 2002-03. (4) Data have not previously been previously published in this format therefore totals may not match totals found in the published data. (5) Excludes quarter 1, data not available.

Police: Sick Leave

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department  (a) how many working days were lost to sickness,  (b) what the average number of working days per staff member lost to sickness was and  (c) what percentage of days lost to sickness were attributed to stress-related conditions for (i) police officers, (ii) other police staff and (iii) other departmental staff in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: The available data relating to police sickness absence have been centrally collected from 2002-03 and is set out in Table A. The data are available on the Home Office website, located at:
	http://www.police.homeoffice.gov.uk/performance-and-measurement/performance-assessment/
	The method of counting police officer sickness was changed in 2004-05. For and prior to 2003-04 it is counted on the basis of days lost per officer. From 2004-05 police sick absence data has been collected and published in hours per officer. The change was made to reflect the fact that the police officers and staff do not work a conventional day and are employed on differing shift patterns.
	The Home Office does not hold data on the reasons for sick absence in the police service.
	Information on sick absence for the Home Office and its agencies. Home Office staff data represents the number of working days lost to sickness, the number of days lost to sickness per member of staff and the percentage of sickness attributed to stress.
	
		
			  Table A: Police service: Average number of hours lost per annum to sickness 
			   Police officers  Police staff 
			 2002-03(1) 10.4 days 11.7 days 
			 2003-04(1) 9.6 days 10.9 days 
			 2004-05 70.9 hours 72.6 hours 
			 2005-06 69.3 hours 77.4 hours 
			 2006-07 69.7 hours 74.8 hours 
			 (1) Data is incomplete for those years. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			  Home Office HQ( 1, 2)  
			 Working days lost to sickness   23,564 30,082 24,393 
			 Average number of working days lost to sickness per member of staff   5.12 5.99 6.9 
			 Percentage of days lost to sickness attributed to stress   23 25 24 
			   
			  Border and Immigration Agency( 1, 2)  
			 Working days lost to sickness   157,066 164,181 197,476 
			 Average number of working days lost to sickness per member of staff   10.17 10.31 11.27 
			 Percentage of days lost to sickness attributed to stress   11.39 11.80 14.22 
			   
			  Criminal Records Bureau( 3, 4)  
			 Working days lost to sickness   3,700 3,100 4,300 
			 Average number of working days lost to sickness per member of staff   9.2 8.2 10.5 
			 Percentage of days lost to sickness attributed to stress   (5) (5) (5) 
			   
			  Identity and Passport Service  
			 Working days lost to sickness 32,724 33,087 36,386 38,822 42,324 
			 Average number of working days lost to sickness per member of staff 13.5 12.64 11.34 10.21 9.73 
			 Percentage of days lost to sickness attributed to stress 27 23 24 24 24 
			 (1) The data in the table has been extracted from the Home Office HQ and Border and Immigration Agency personnel system. (2 )The Home Office HQ and Border and Immigration Agency's data for 2003 and 2004 is not available due to lack of central recording. (3 )CRB do not centrally hold sick absences due to stress related conditions therefore this information is not available. (4 )Information on sick absence for CRB was not collected and held centrally until 2005 therefore data are only available for the last three years. (5) Not available.

Prosecutions

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been  (a) prosecuted and  (b) convicted as a result of National Crime Squad investigations in 2005-06.

Jacqui Smith: In 2005-06, 520 people were charged as a result of National Crime Squad operations and, during the same period, 404 people were convicted.

Rackspace

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total value was of each contract awarded to Rackspace by  (a) her Department and  (b) its agencies in each of the last nine years.

Liam Byrne: From best available records the  (a) Home Department and  (b) its executive agencies have not awarded contracts to Rackspace.

Security: ICT

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the threat posed by storm worm trojans to IT infrastructure in the UK.

Jacqui Smith: No assessment has been made of this particular type of trojan. However, the Government works closely with law enforcement and the private sector to understand the threats to the UK from the internet.

Serious Organised Crime Agency

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2008,  Official Report, column 357W, on the Serious Organised Crime Agency, for which offences the 15 individuals were convicted.

Jacqui Smith: Three of the 15 individuals were convicted in Russia of 10 counts of extortion each. The remaining 12 were convicted in UK courts of at least one of the following offences:
	Conspiracy to defraud
	Money laundering
	Possession of false instruments with intent
	Indecency with a child
	Hacking
	Blackmail
	Making indecent images of a child
	Possessing indecent images of a child
	Possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply
	Supply of class B drugs
	Deception

Sexual Offences: Disclosure of Information

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how she plans to evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot scheme on disclosure of child sex offenders' convictions to certain members of the public.

Jacqui Smith: The details of the pilot scheme, including the method of evaluating the pilots' effectiveness in term of child protection, are currently being developed. Thisas well as all other aspects of the pilotsis overseen by Project Board, on which the Home Office, the Ministry of Justice, the Department for Children Schools and Families, ACPO, Barnardos, NCH and NSPCC are represented.

Stowaways

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was raised from fines of drivers of vehicles carrying stowaways in each year since the inception of such fines.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 12 November 2007
	The civil penalty regime was amended by the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act which came into effect on 8 December 2002. Flexible penalties were introduced enabling separately imposed penalties on companies and drivers as apposed to fixed penalties of 2000 per clandestine entrant.
	The regime now ensures that if the owner or hirer of a vehicle is also the employer of the driver, they remain jointly and severally liable to the payment of the driver's penalty.
	Since the inception of civil penalties within European Operations locally collated management information indicate the following amount of revenue raised from fines to drivers and hauliers.
	These figures take into account the objection and appeals process by which penalties could be reduced or cancelled and include payment for penalties imposed in previous years. Information relating to the revenue raised from drivers' penalties alone is not available.
	
		
			   Total penalties received () 
			 2003 490,092 
			 2004 749,076 
			 2005 981,135 
			 2006 1,033,240 
			 2007 1,357,703

Terrorism: Convictions

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions there have been for terrorist offences in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: Holding answer 26 March 2008
	The number of individuals convicted since 1997 under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976 is available on the Home Office website in Statistics on the Operation of the Prevention of Terrorism Legislation, Great Britain. This publication details detentions under this Act and outcomes including statistics on individuals found guilty. It is available quarterly through the 'archive' page back to 1979.
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/hosbarchive.html
	The Terrorism Act 2000 came into force on 19 February 2001. Statistics compiled from police records are available on the Home Office website from 11 September 2001 to 31 March 2007.
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/security/terrorism-and-the-law/?view=Standard
	These detail arrests under this Act and under other legislation where the investigation is considered terrorist related and the outcomes to those arrests, including convictions.
	For this period, there were 41 Terrorism Act convictions and 183 convictions under other legislation.
	In addition to the above, statistics on the number of convictions in significant terrorist cases are collated for 2007 and 2008. In 2007, 37 individuals were convicted in 15 significant terrorist cases. 21 of those individuals pleaded guilty. So far in 2008, 21 people have been convicted in seven significant terrorist cases. Of these 21, 10 individuals pleaded guilty.
	Figures are complied from police records and are subject to change as cases go through the system. The Home Office is currently working with the police to review how terrorism statistics are collated.

Terrorism: Internet

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many websites have been shut down for terrorism-related reasons since 1997; and how many of these websites have subsequently reopened.

Jacqui Smith: The legislation that allows us to request that unlawfully terrorism related material is modified or removed from the internet is Section 3 of the Terrorism Act 2006. Section 3 allows a constable to serve a notice where he or she believes illegal terrorism related material is available on the internet, on the person(s) responsible for that material. The notice requires that the terrorism related material be removed or modified within two working days. The preferred route of the police (recommended in the guidelines on using Section 3 notices) is not to issue formal Section 3 notices in the first instance, but to use informal contact with communication service providers instead. To date this has proved effective, but statistics covering the number of sites removed through such informal contact are not available. The police have no record of any Section 3 notices being issued, and statistics on the use of Section 3 notices are not collected by the Home Office.

Terrorism: Prosecutions

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been  (a) prosecuted and  (b) convicted of the offence of acts preparatory to terrorism under the Terrorism Act 2006.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 13 November 2007
	The Terrorism Act 2006 came into force in April of that year. Statistics compiled from police records show that, to date, seven individuals have been prosecuted for acts preparatory to terrorism under this legislation and of these, five individuals have been convicted.

Work Permits

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many employers applied for work permits in each of the last three years.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 31 March 2008
	The information requested could only be obtained by the detailed examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Shoplifting: Convictions

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Solicitor-General how many successful prosecutions have been brought for shoplifting in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	Data showing the number of defendants found guilty at all courts, cautioned and issued with Penalty Notices for Disorder for the offence of theft from a shop or stall in England and Wales for the respective years 2002 to 2006 are in the following table.
	PNDs and conditional cautions, in addition to simple cautions, allow low level offending to be dealt with effectively outside court when it is not in the public interest to prosecute.
	Under the Penalty Notice for Disorder Scheme rolled out to all forces in England and Wales in 2004, a fixed penalty of 80 can be issued for shoplifting of goods, normally up to a value of 100. The offence was added to the scheme in November 2004.
	National roll-out of conditional cautions began in June 2006.
	The figures given in the table on prosecutions relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	Court proceedings, cautions and Penalty Notice for Disorder data for 2007 will be available in the autumn of 2008.
	
		
			  Number of defendants found guilty, cautioned and issued with penalty notices for disorder for the offence of theft from a shop or stall, England  Wales, 2002 to 2006( 1,2) 
			   Found guilty  Cautioned( 3)  Penalty notices for disorder( 4) 
			 2002 80,166 34,190 n/a 
			 2003 74,927 35,384 n/a 
			 2004 69,541 41,165 2,072 
			 2005 64,076 44,009 21,997 
			 2006 58,536 45,054 38,772 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Includes conditional cautions. (4) The Penalty Notice for Disorder Scheme was rolled out to all police forces in 2004. The police can issue a fixed penalty of 80 for shoplifting of goods up to the value of 200.  Source: RDS-OCJR - Ministry of Justice.

TREASURY

Car Allowances

Jo Swinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  when he next plans to review the recommended level of free mileage rates for business journeys in employees' own vehicles;
	(2)  when the last review of the recommended level of free mileage rates for business journeys in employees' own vehicles took place;
	(3)  what recent representations he has received on the review of the recommended level of tax-free mileage rates for business journeys in employees' own vehicles;
	(4)  whether increases in fuel costs are taken into account when setting the level of tax-free mileage rates for business journeys in employees' own vehicles.

Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Mid-Dorset and North Poole (Annette Brooke) on 13 March 2008,  Official Report, column 535W. I also refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 7 January 2008,  Official Report, column 306W. The Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) system was reformed in 2002. The Government keep AMAP rates and thresholds under review as part of the PBR and Budget process.

Departmental Training

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff in his Department and its agencies have attended the  (a) Influencing with Integrity,  (b) Emotional Intelligence,  (c) Counselling Skills for the Workplace,  (d) Managing your Confidence,  (e) Balancing Work/Life Realities and  (f) Working Assertively training course run by the National School of Government in the last 12 months for which information is available; and at what cost.

Angela Eagle: The National School of Government's records for the period 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008 indicate the following attendances for HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs:
	seven officials attended 'Influencing with integrity' (four from HMRC at a total cost of 2,904 and three from HM Treasury at a total cost of 2,178); and
	two HMRC officials attended 'Emotional intelligence' (at a total cost of 2,990).

Departmental Working Hours

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many hours  (a) in total and  (b) on average per employee were worked by civil servants in his Department in the last year for which records are available.

Angela Eagle: Staff in HM Treasury can complete a flexi hours timesheet, but it is not mandatory to do so. Around 80 per cent. of staff complete the timesheet each month, this equates to an average of 37 hours per week per employee. This average will include part-time staff whose standard working week is less than 36 hours net.

Housing

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the number of owner-occupiers in each income decile, broken down by region.

Iain Wright: I have been asked to reply.
	The available information, derived from the Department of Work and Pension's Family Resources Survey (FRS), is given in the following tables. Since the question does not specify whether the basis for income should be before or after housing costs have been deductedboth sets of figures have been determined.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of owner-occupied households by equivalised income decile and region/country, before housing costs (3-year average, 2003-04 to 2005-06) 
			  m illion 
			  Region/country  Bottom decile  Second decile  Third decile  Fourth decile  Fifth decile  Sixth decile  Seventh decile  Eighth decile  Ninth decile  Top decile  All owner-occupied households 
			 England 1.4 1.1 1.1 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 2.1 14.9 
			 North East 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.7 
			 North West 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 2.1 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 1.5 
			 East Midlands 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.1 1.3 
			 West Midlands 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 1.6 
			 East of England 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 1.7 
			 London 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.5 1.9 
			 South East 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.5 2.5 
			 South West 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 1.6 
			 Wales 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.9 
			 Scotland 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 1.5 
			 Northern Ireland 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.5 
			 UK 1.7 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.7 1.8 1.9 2.0 2.2 2.3 17.8 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of owner-occupied households by equivalised income decile and region/country, after housing costs (3-year average, 2003-04 to 2005-06) 
			  m illion 
			  Region/country  Bottom decile  Second decile  Third decile  Fourth decile  Fifth decile  Sixth decile  Seventh decile  Eighth decile  Ninth decile  Top decile  All owner-occupied households 
			 England 0.9 0.9 1.2 1.3 1.5 1.5 1.7 1.8 2 2.2 14.9 
			 North East 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.7 
			 North West 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.2 2.1 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 1.5 
			 East Midlands 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 1.3 
			 West Midlands 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 1.6 
			 East of England 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 1.7 
			 London 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.5 1.9 
			 South East 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 2.5 
			 South West 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 1.6 
			 Wales 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.9 
			 Scotland 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 1.5 
			 Northern Ireland 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.5 
			 UK 1.1 1.0 1.4 1.6 1.8 1.9 2.0 2.1 2.3 2.5 17.8 
			  Notes:  1. Averages based on three survey years are given because the sample sizes for individual regions for single years are too small to produce robust annual estimates.  2. The income measures used to derive the estimates shown employ the same methodology as the DWP publication 'Households Below Average Income' (HBAI) series, which uses disposable household income, adjusted (or equivalised) for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living.  3. The figures are based on OECD equivalisation factors.  4. The national median income of the survey year in question has been used (i.e. the contemporary median) instead of using a fixed median for a particular year. This is consistent with the preferred way of measuring poverty.  5. Owner-occupied households are defined as households that are either owned outright or are being bought with a mortgage.  6. Figures are given in millions rounded to the nearest 100,000 households. Some figures may not sum due to rounding.  Source: Family Resources Survey 2003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06

Housing

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the number of owner-occupier households earning below 60 per cent. of median income  (a) who are working and  (b) who are unemployed in each region; and what his estimate is of the number of owner-occupiers earning below 40 per cent. of median income (i) who are working and (ii) who are unemployed in each region.

Iain Wright: I have been asked to reply.
	The most common and internationally recognised threshold to measure poverty is income below 60 per cent. of median. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) does not present information covering 40 per cent. of median income in our Households Below Average Income series as it is not a sound measure of poverty. This is because households stating the lowest incomes to the Family Resources Survey may not actually have the lowest living standards.
	Specific information regarding low income for the United Kingdom is available in Households Below Average Income 1994-95 to 2005-06, published by the DWP. This annual report, which is a National Statistics publication, includes the number and proportion of individuals, children, working age adults and pensioners with incomes below 50 per cent., 60 per cent. and 70 per cent. of median income, and the proportion in persistent poverty.
	The available information, derived from the DWP's Family Resources Survey (FRS), is given in the following tables. However, it should be noted with regards to the information in the tables that robust estimates are not available for each individual region for owner-occupied households below 40 per cent. of contemporary median income because of small samples.
	Although the question asks for the number of owner-occupied households who are unemployed, the tables show the number of workless householdsthe reason for this is given in note 7.
	The question does not specify whether the basis for income should be before or after housing costs have been deductedso both sets of figures have been given.
	
		
			  Table la: Number of working and workless owner-occupied households with less than 60 per cent. of contemporary median household income before housing costs, by region or country, three year averages, 2003-04 to 2005-06 
			  m illion 
			  Region/country  Working owner-occupied households  Workless owner-occupied households  All owner-occupied households 
			 England 0.8 1.4 2.2 
			 North East 0.0 0.1 0.1 
			 North West 0.1 0.2 0.3 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 0.1 0.1 0.2 
			 East Midlands 0.1 0.1 0.2 
			 West Midlands 0.1 0.2 0.3 
			 East of England 0.1 0.1 0.2 
			 London 0.1 0.2 0.3 
			 South East 0.1 0.2 0.3 
			 South West 0.1 0.2 0.2 
			 Wales 0.1 0.1 0.2 
			 Scotland 0.1 0.1 0.2 
			 Northern Ireland 0.0 0.1 0.1 
			 UK 1.0 1.7 2.7 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 1b : Number of working and workless owner-occupied households with less than 60 per cent. of contempor ary median household income after  housing costs, by region or country, three year averages, 2003-04 to 2005-06 
			  m illion 
			  Region/country  Working owner-occupied households  Workless owner-occupied households  All owner-occupied households 
			 England 0.9 1.0 1.9 
			 North East 0.0 0.0 0.1 
			 North West 0.1 0.2 0.3 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 0.1 0.1 0.2 
			 East Midlands 0.1 0.1 0.2 
			 West Midlands 0.1 0.1 0.2 
			 East of England 0.1 0.1 0.2 
			 London 0.1 0.1 0.3 
			 South East 0.1 0.1 0.3 
			 South West 0.1 0.1 0.2 
			 Wales 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			 Scotland 0.1 0.1 0.2 
			 Northern Ireland 0.0 0.0 0.1 
			 UK 1.1 1.2 2.3 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2a : Number of working and workless owner-occu pied households with less than 4 0 per cent. of contempor ary median household income before  housing costs, by region or country, three year averages, 2003-04 to 2005-06 
			  m illion 
			  Region/country  Working owner-occupied households  Workless owner-occupied households  All owner-occupied households 
			 UK 0.4 0.5 0.9 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2b : Number of working and workless owner-occu pied households with less than 4 0 per cent. of contempor ary median household income after  housing costs, by region or country, three year averages, 2003-04 to 2005-06 
			  Million 
			  Region/country  Working owner-occupied households  Workless owner-occupied households  All owner-occupied households 
			 UK 0.5 0.4 1.0 
			  Notes: 1. Averages based on three survey years are given, because the sample sizes for individual regions for single years are too small to produce robust annual estimates. 2. The income measures used to derive the estimates shown employ the same methodology as the Department for Work and Pensions publication Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series, which uses disposable household income, adjusted (or 'equivalised') for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 3. Income includes housing benefit, where applicable. Housing costs include rents, where applicable. This definition is standard international best practice. 4. The figures are based on OECD equivalisation factors. 5. The national median income of the survey year in question has been used (i.e. the 2003-04 median income is the basis of the results for the 2003-04 survey year) instead of using a fixed median for a particular year. This is consistent with the preferred way of measuring poverty. 6. Owner-occupied households are defined as households that are either owned outright or are being bought with a mortgage. 7. A household is defined as workless if no one within the household is classified as working. So 'workless' embraces all the 'not working' categories: unemployed, retired, student, looking after family/home, permanently sick/disabled, temporarily sick/injured and other inactive. DWP prefer to answer this PQ in a manner consistent with their publications. In any case, if they had limited the analysis to just 'unemployed', the sample size would have been too small to produce anything robust or meaningful. 8. Within households, pensioners are excluded from the classifications if they are not working, and are included if they are working. For example, a household with a pensioner in work, but a working age person not in work, would be in the working households category. This is consistent with the definition of the economic status of the household used in the Households Below Average Income publication. 
			 9. Figures are given in million, rounded to the nearest 100,000 households. Some figures may not sum due to rounding. 10. This response includes a lower income threshold of 40 per cent. of the contemporary median income. The data for families with an income lower than 50 per cent. of median is not considered to be accurate as an indicator of living standards. Many of these households while having very low incomes would not be considered poor, but who do genuinely have few sources of income in the short-run. These figures are not National Statistics and caution must be applied because those people stating the lowest incomes in the FRS may not actually have the lowest living standards.  Source: Family Resources Survey 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06.

Housing: Prices

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average  (a) price and  (b) rental costs of housing was in each year since 1990, broken down by (i) size, (ii) type and (iii) region.

Iain Wright: I have been asked to reply.
	A range of tables showing recent trends in property prices and rents are set out as follows. Property price information is provided for the whole of the UK but rental information from the Survey of English Housing is available for England only.
	Property price data goes back to 1990, as requested but rental information is only available for later years.
	
		
			  Table 1: Average property price by Government office region, England, 1990-2007 
			   
			   North East  North West  Yorkshire and Humber  East Midlands  West Midlands  East  London  South East  South West 
			 1990 41,374 50,361 47,231 52,620 54,694 71,671 83,821 81,638 65,378 
			 1991 45,395 52,951 52,343 55,740 58,659 69,865 85,742 80,696 65,346 
			 1992 47,485 56,488 52,291 54,551 57,881 65,198 78,049 76,528 61,654 
			 1993 48,725 55,641 54,572 53,797 58,508 66,756 81,332 77,239 61,319 
			 1994 48,893 57,242 54,352 55,119 59,089 69,431 87,631 82,513 64,847 
			 1995 46,565 56,231 54,356 55,060 62,123 70,036 89,528 83,030 65,096 
			 1996 51,009 57,609 55,867 58,855 64,320 73,403 94,065 87,644 68,034 
			 1997 52,824 63,077 60,019 61,930 67,803 81,378 105,819 94,842 73,004 
			 1998 55,957 65,666 62,214 66,155 71,864 88,682 114,783 106,378 80,203 
			 1999 61,620 72,017 67,416 72,437 79,757 96,841 142,321 121,654 89,217 
			 2000 63,921 77,913 72,176 79,323 88,431 111,813 163,577 142,790 104,233 
			 2001 69,813 82,402 76,368 87,280 97,650 127,858 182,325 156,964 118,639 
			 2002 78,971 92,074 88,126 104,835 112,313 151,330 207,246 180,243 142,403 
			 2003 100,344 115,003 114,253 132,013 137,371 183,234 241,864 214,971 174,482 
			 2004 126,611 139,095 137,317 154,493 161,846 202,985 272,886 237,000 197,926 
			 2005 135,210 149,440 148,014 161,487 168,904 211,661 282,548 243,537 204,686 
			 2006 141,125 157,506 158,247 164,336 177,182 221,125 305,544 256,889 213,586 
			 2007 152,295 170,072 170,203 176,255 185,048 238,147 342,122 278,054 230,885 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Average property price by country, 1990-2007 
			   
			   United Kingdom  England  Wales  Scotland  Northern Ireland 
			 1990 59,785 63,173 46,464 41,744 31,849 
			 1991 62,455 65,299 48,989 48,772 35,392 
			 1992 61,366 63,692 49,551 50,010 38,287 
			 1993 62,333 64,572 52,465 49,568 38,880 
			 1994 64,787 67,518 53,106 50,651 38,651 
			 1995 65,644 68,066 52,978 53,143 42,810 
			 1996 70,626 72,210 54,898 56,674 47,678 
			 1997 76,103 78,831 58,372 57,883 53,309 
			 1998 81,774 84,695 60,902 63,585 59,376 
			 1999 92,521 96,133 67,483 69,312 66,267 
			 2000 101,550 106,998 72,285 69,961 72,514 
			 2001 112,835 119,563 79,628 73,570 79,885 
			 2002 128,265 137,278 88,261 77,655 83,829 
			 2003 155,627 166,820 109,661 103,641 95,217 
			 2004 180,248 192,002 138,141 118,932 110,188 
			 2005 190,760 202,409 149,979 129,631 129,229 
			 2006 204,813 214,045 157,457 137,192 169,259 
			 2007 223,405 232,054 169,848 158,798 229,701 
			  Source:  Regulated Mortgage Survey CLG Live table 503: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/140951 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Average property price by dwelling type, UK, 1990-2007 
			   
			   Bungalow  Detached  Semi- detached  Terraced  Flat or maisonette in converted house  Purpose built flat or maisonette  All dwellings 
			 1990 71,177 108,474 56,506 46,421 53,885 44,890 59,785 
			 1991 71,032 106,351 58,971 48,252 54,626 45,305 62,455 
			 1992 67,947 104,462 57,259 46,696 52,475 43,449 61,366 
			 1993 68,347 102,612 56,307 46,157 53,123 42,824 62,333 
			 1994 70,071 107,794 57,689 47,549 56,536 43,940 64,787 
			 1995 68,398 109,502 57,598 49,028 59,815 47,412 65,644 
			 1996 72,173 112,530 61,794 52,417 66,049 51,613 70,626 
			 1997 78,784 119,402 66,452 58,511 74,023 56,311 76,103 
			 1998 84,133 127,556 71,485 62,589 83,945 61,469 81,774 
			 1999 90,981 140,963 79,654 71,404 99,767 73,908 92,521 
			 2000 103,390 155,167 88,098 78,264 107,775 81,725 101,550 
			 2001 113,419 173,295 99,412 87,470 121,456 90,356 112,835 
			 2002 138,299 201,815 113,299 99,150 149,192 103,408 128,265 
			 2003 163,818 250,095 138,731 120,997 164,867 125,777 155,627 
			 2004 189,074 280,877 162,410 142,827 164,636 148,543 180,248 
			 2005 203,292 299,378 176,030 152,977 155,524 159,325 190,760 
			 2006 218,762 312,075 189,525 163,955 159,803 171,928 204,813 
			 2007 236,760 339,235 206,026 180,618 180,810 185,859 223,405 
			  Source: Regulated Mortgage Survey CLG Live table 511: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/140990 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 4: Average housing association rents by Government office region, England, 1994-2007 
			   per week 
			   England  North East  North West  Yorkshire and Humber  East Midlands  West Midlands  East  London  South East 
			 1994 38 34 31 35 38 36 38 43 42 
			 1995 41 36 33 36 40 39 41 46 44 
			 1996 44 37 36 40 43 41 44 50 49 
			 1997 47 40 39 42 45 44 47 53 52 
			 1998 50 42 42 44 48 45 50 57 55 
			 1999 52 43 44 46 48 48 53 59 58 
			 2000 53 45 46 48 48 48 54 61 60 
			 2001 54 46 46 47 49 48 56 63 61 
			 2002 56 46 49 49 50 50 57 65 64 
			 2003 57 47 50 49 51 51 59 67 65 
			 2004 58 49 52 50 53 52 60 70 67 
			 2005 61 52 55 51 56 56 64 75 71 
			 2006 64 54 57 54 59 58 66 78 75 
			 2007 67 56 59 55 61 61 69 81 77 
			  Note: The figures reflect gross rents (before deduction of housing benefit, if applicable).  Source: Housing Corporation HAR/10 and RSR (Regulatory and Statistical Return). Derived from CLG Live Table No.703: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/141440 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 5: Average council rents by Government office region, England, 1994-2007 
			   per week 
			   England  North East  North West  Yorkshire and Humber  East Midlands  West Midlands  East  London  South East  South West 
			 1996 40 33 38 31 34 37 41 53 46 41 
			 1997 41 34 38 32 36 38 43 54 47 41 
			 1998 42 35 39 34 37 39 44 55 48 42 
			 1999 44 37 41 35 38 40 46 58 51 44 
			 2000 46 39 42 37 40 41 48 60 52 45 
			 2001 48 40 44 39 41 45 50 62 54 47 
			 2002 50 42 46 42 44 47 52 65 56 48 
			 2003 51 42 47 43 44 47 52 65 58 49 
			 2004 53 44 47 44 46 49 55 67 59 50 
			 2005 55 45 49 46 48 51 58 69 62 52 
			 2006 58 48 51 48 50 54 61 73 64 54 
			 2007 61 51 54 51 54 57 64 77 68 57 
			  Notes: 1. The figures reflect gross rents (before deduction of housing benefit, if applicable). 2. Figures are unaudited and therefore indicative only.  Source: Second Advance Claim Forms submitted by local authorities to Communities and Local Government. Derived from CLG Live Table No. 715: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/table-715 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 6: Average private rents by Government office region, England, 1995-96 to 2006-07 
			   per week 
			  Two-year period  England  North East  North West  Yorkshire and Humber  East Midlands  West Midlands  East  London  South East  South West 
			 1995-96 and 1996-97 86 65 71 61 59 69 78 127 90 71 
			 1996-97 and 1997-98 88 61 64 62 61 70 82 133 97 73 
			 1997-98 and 1998-99 90 59 66 62 70 65 82 141 101 78 
			 1998-99 and 1999-2000 93 55 76 65 70 64 83 148 102 82 
			 1999-2000 and 2000-01 97 59 76 66 64 73 89 151 109 84 
			 2000-01 and 2001-02 106 70 77 68 75 79 94 165 119 91 
			 2001-02 and 2002-03 116 72 79 75 82 82 96 188 135 95 
			 2002-03 and 2003-04 120 72 81 81 84 85 102 191 135 97 
			 2003-04 and 2004-05 119 75 83 86 86 85 113 179 130 103 
			 2004-05 and 2005-06 123 75 86 83 89 88 122 184 136 108 
			 2005-06 and 2006-07 128 83 91 79 94 94 126 194 141 114 
			  Notes: 1. The figures reflect gross rents (before deduction of housing benefit, if applicable) 2. Assured and Assured Shorthold tenancies onlyaccessible to the public without special conditions.  3. Sampling variability is too great for regional figures to be published for individual years.  Source: Survey of English Housing Derived from CLG Live Table No.734 http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/141656

Income: Gold

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue has been raised from sales of  (a) gold and  (b) mobile telephone licences in the last 10 years; and what such revenue was used for.

Angela Eagle: The information requested is as follows:
	 Gold
	395 tonnes of gold were sold from the reserves between July 1999 and March 2002 and re-invested in interest-bearing foreign currency assets. The total proceeds were around $3.5 billion, equivalent to around 2.3 billion (using exchange rates at the time of the sales).
	 Mobile telephone licences
	The auction of wireless telegraphy licences for 3G mobile telephony raised 22,477.4 million in May 2000. Ofcom has since held three further auctions of licences on a technology and application neutral basis in frequency bands suitable for mobile communications (in May 2006, October 2006 and May 2007) raising a total of 5.64 million.
	The aim of the auctions was not to raise revenue but to secure optimal use of the radio spectrum. Receipts from spectrum awards are passed to the Consolidated Fund. The Consolidated Fund receives the proceeds of taxation and certain other Government receipts and finances the nation's general expenditure.

Landfill Tax: Tax Yields

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department makes estimates of the amount of landfill tax receipts it receives from each local authority.

Angela Eagle: It is not possible using landfill tax receipts data to determine how much revenue is received from local authorities. This is because registered landfill site operators pay the tax to HM Revenue and Customs and pass on the cost to their customers through the disposal charges they set. The origin of the landfilled waste is not recorded on the tax return.

National Savings and Investments: Marketing

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the advertising and sponsorship budget of National Savings and Investments was in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with representatives of National Savings and Investments since September 2007 on its advertising budget.

Angela Eagle: Treasury Ministers and officials discuss a wide range of issues with National Savings and Investments.
	The following table summarises spend for advertising and sponsorship in NSI over the past five financial years.
	
		
			   Spend ( million) 
			 2002-03 10.4 
			 2003-04 6.1 
			 2004-05 12.7 
			 2005-06 17.7 
			 2006-07 15.1

Northern Rock

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what distinct payments have been made by the Bank of England to Northern Rock in each of the last five years; and on what date each amount was transferred between the parties.

Angela Eagle: This is a commercial matter between the Bank of England and Northern Rock.

Northern Rock

Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what range of estimates of the potential level of support required by Northern Rock were provided to his Department by  (a) Northern Rock,  (b) the Financial Services Authority and  (c) the Bank of England prior to the agreement to provide financial support.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 1 February 2008
	 Information provided on Northern Rock's financial position by the company itself, the Financial Services Authority or the Bank of England remain commercially confidential, and in some cases would be covered by statutory restrictions on disclosure under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. The provision of liquidity support by the Bank of England as lender of last resort was addressed in HM Treasury's statement of 14 September 2007 and in subsequent statements. The provision of additional facilities by the Bank of England, in respect of which HM Treasury provided an indemnity, was addressed in HM Treasury's statement of 11 October 2007 and in subsequent statements.

Northern Rock: Freedom of Information

Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the reasons were for providing that sections 4 and 6 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 will not apply to Northern Rock under public ownership in the Banking (Special Provisions) Bill.

Angela Eagle: As the chief secretary to the Treasury explained to the House on 21 February 2008,  Official Report, columns 634-37, Northern Rock is not performing a public function. The company is a purely commercial concern operating at arm's length from the Government in a competitive environment. Moreover, it has been taken into public ownership only on a temporary basis. On this basis, it would be inappropriate to make Northern Rock subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Northern Rock: Nationalisation

Greg Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the European Competition Commissioner on the effects the nationalisation of Northern Rock has had on the competitive environment in banking in the European Union.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 14 March 2008
	Treasury Ministers and officials discuss a wide range of issues with the European Commission, including the temporary public ownership of Northern Rock.

Northern Rock: Public Appointments

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what Ann Godbehere's remuneration package is as chief financial officer of Northern Rock, including  (a) annual salary,  (b) pension contributions,  (c) potential bonus payments and  (d) non-financial benefits.

Angela Eagle: As HM Treasury announced on 17 February 2008, Ann Godbehere is being paid 75,000 per month. This is a flat rate.

Northern Rock: Public Appointments

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what Ron Sandler's remuneration package is as executive chair of Northern Rock, including  (a) annual salary,  (b) pension contributions,  (c) potential bonus payments and  (d) non-financial benefits.

Angela Eagle: As HM Treasury announced on 17 February 2008, Ron Sandler is being paid 90,000 per month. This is a flat rate.